AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha expressed concerns on Friday regarding the recent cloud seeding trial conducted in Burari, alleging that it was carried out without notifying local residents or public representatives, thus breaching standard operating procedures. The Delhi government has not yet responded to these allegations. During a press conference, Jha stated, “When cloud seeding is attempted, there are standard operating procedures (SOPs) that must be adhered to, which were overlooked. No one in Burari was informed about the trial, and I, as the local MLA, only learned of it afterward.
Not a single resident witnessed the aircraft.” He claimed that the government executed the operation “quietly,” contrasting it with the publicized events like the arrival of Rafale jets and Cheetahs in India. “Why was cloud seeding conducted in secrecy? The chemicals used could pose risks to crops and human health. In every country where cloud seeding is performed, local residents are notified in advance,” he said, calling for a detailed analytical report of the trial, including the types and quantities of chemicals deployed. He also questioned why Burari was selected for the trial, suggesting it exhibited an “insensitive attitude” towards areas with a high migrant population. “Why focus solely on northeast Delhi?
Can pollution throughout the city be addressed with a minor trial in one location?” he queried. On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the city is preparing for its first artificial rain through cloud seeding, marking a significant advancement in Delhi’s technological initiatives to combat pollution. “Preparations are complete, and a successful trial was conducted in the Burari area,” Gupta noted in a post on X.
