Latest news with #ManjinderSinghSirsa
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Delhi breathes easy for second straight day with AQI at 89
Delhi continued to record clean air for the second consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the 'satisfactory' category at 89. On Wednesday, the city recorded its cleanest air in over eight months, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa credited the government's 100-day action plan for the improvement in the capital's air quality. He said 6,482 km of roads were swept in just 24 hours, as part of over 11 lakh km cleaned since February 20, claiming that 1,353 km of roads were being sprinkled daily, with 744 kilolitres of water used in the last 24 hours. "This improvement is not accidental. It is the result of a relentless 100-day effort — of policy-backed implementation, sustained on-ground action, and political determination. Delhi has finally proven that with the right will and vision, clean air is possible," Mr. Sirsa said. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert for thunderstorm and moderate to heavy rainfall in the capital for Thursday night. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.6° Celsius on Thursday, five notches below the season's normal, the IMD said. The relative humidity was 82% at 8:30 a.m., while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.2° Celsius, normal for this time of the season, it said. The weather department has predicted thunderstorm with rain for Friday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 37 and 28° Celsius, respectively, according to the IMD.
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Tony Blair was 'surprised' over work achieved by BJP govt in 100 days in Delhi: Manjinder Sirsa
ANI 19 Jun 2025, 22:06 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blar was 'surprised' at the work BJP government has achieved in the first 100 days of its tenure in the national capital. Blair met CM Rekha Gupta and Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa at the Delhi Secretariat here on Thursday. 'Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who came to meet Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. There was a discussion about the services they provide through NGOs. We also discussed that CM Rekha Gupta completed that in 100 days... He was surprised that achieving this much work in 100 days was possible... He is amused to meet the chief minister of over 30 million people, a very significant figure when compared to the European population,' Sirsa said. 'He also explained how PM Modi's vision influences his work. He stated that he would meet the Foreign Minister to congratulate him on India's status today, which compels global relationships; being a friend of India means being a friend of the world, while being an enemy of India isolates one,' he added. Blair also met the Andhra Pradesh Minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh, and Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. Meanwhile in a post on X, Sirsa said, 'Honoured to welcome former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair during his visit to meet Delhi CM Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji. He showed great interest in the work being done in Delhi under new BJP Govt. He was deeply impressed by the transformative work done in just 100 days... from strengthening public healthcare and launching pro-environment drives to impactful welfare schemes that are truly touching lives. Under the dynamic leadership of CM Rekha Gupta Ji and guided by PM Narendra Modi ji's vision, Delhi is fast becoming a model of inclusive and effective governance.' (ANI)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt hopeful of cloud-seeding trials by month-end
New Delhi The Delhi government is hopeful of conducting a pilot cloud-seeding trial by the month-end, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday, pointing out that barring a few technical clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Delhi government has received approval for the project. The ministry of defence has allowed the government to fly a plane for the project from the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Sirsa said that once the final clearance is in place, the government will seek a six-hour plan from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which will analyse moisture content in the air, geographical spread of clouds and their density in the Capital. 'The good news is that the permissions we needed from the agencies and central government departments have all been received, barring a few technical clearances from the DGCA, which should be in by next week,' Sirsa said. 'We have already spoken to IMD and they will share with us a deep analysis of the atmospheric conditions. These six-hour plans will basically tell us when to fly the plane and in which areas we have suitable moisture and conditions to do cloud-seeding,' Sirsa said. Cloud-seeding is a weather modification technique, wherein silver iodide (AgI) is released into the atmosphere to aid the formation of ice crystals and improve the ability of the cloud to create rain. 'A team from IIT Kanpur met us on Tuesday night. The team will remain in Delhi and once we get the data from IMD, we can practically hold the first trial within 24 hours,' Sirsa said. The government said the trial will take place only in the outer parts of Delhi. 'The flights will avoid restricted airspace such as VIP-89 (Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, PM residence), as per standard aviation protocol,' an official said. When put to the minister that the southwest monsoon, which generally hits the Capital on June 27, was progressing at a faster-than-usual pace, Sirsa said it would not impact their plans. 'We will not hold a trial on the day it is already raining, but on a day when there is sufficient moisture but less chance of natural rain,' Sirsa said. On Wednesday, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was 81 (satisfactory), its lowest since it was 76 (satisfactory) on September 29, 2024. Sirsa said testing the impact on Delhi's air quality was not the primary aim of this trial. 'We already know rain positively impacts air quality. The goal of this trial instead will be to determine whether or not this will work, how much area it can influence and how much rain is possible,' he said. Sirsa said that according to IIT Kanpur, Nimbostratus (Ns) clouds were most suitable for seeding experiments, and these are usually at heights between 500 and 6,000 metres. 'The clouds also need to have 50% or higher moisture content.,' he said, adding IIT Kanpur custom seeding mixture, in addition to silver iodide, also contains powdered rock salt, iodized salt and a free-flowing agent that combines hygroscopic and glaciogenic cloud-seeding capabilities. 'The seeding mixture requirement will vary according to moisture content.' On May 8, Sirsa announced that the government sanctioned a project outlay of ₹3.21 crore, with five trials to cost ₹55 lakh each. The remaining ₹66 lakh would cover aircraft calibration, chemical storage, logistics, and other preparatory arrangements. 'The pilot will be conducted with five flights and in a coverage area of 100 sq km. The trial will be done in northwest or outer districts of Delhi,' Sirsa had said in May. To be sure, the state government needs clearances for trials from the Special Protection Group (SPG), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Union ministries of environment, defence and home, the Uttar Pradesh state government, IMD, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Manindra Agarwal from IIT Kanpur said that while Delhi's air was fairly clean at present, the trial will allow them to assess the impact of silver iodide. 'A concern being raised by people was how silver iodide will impact the environment. As per our assessment, the impact is negligible. However, this run will provide us with fresh data for the same. We will collect water samples after it rains to assess the concentration of silver iodide,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
‘All clearances in place for artificial rain pilot'
New Delhi: Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday said the artificial rain pilot is ready for execution, with all scientific systems and clearances in place. He mentioned that the cloud seeding flights will commence when suitable weather conditions—especially cloud moisture and depth—are observed over targeted zones. "All preparations are complete except for a few minor operational clearances. Now, we're just waiting for the right clouds to appear. The moment the weather cooperates, Delhi will witness its first artificial rain. This is a national-first experiment rooted in science, executed with military-grade precision, and evaluated in real time," Sirsa said. India Meteorological Department has confirmed cloud feasibility and will provide real-time data on cloud type, altitude, wind conditions, and dew point to aid planning. As the pilot project will be executed in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, the institute will deploy specially equipped Cessna aircraft with flare-based seeding systems using a proprietary formulation made of Silver Iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt. A maximum of five sorties are planned, with each flight covering 100 sq km and lasting at least 1 hour and 30 minutes over non-sensitive zones of northwest and outer Delhi. "Flights will avoid restricted airspace such as VIP-89 (Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, PM residence), as per standard aviation protocol. However, real-time impact on air quality (PM2.5 and PM10) will be measured using Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) placed in and around the seeding zones," Sirsa added. TNN
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Delhi Gets Nod For First-Ever Artificial Rain Pilot Project
The Delhi government is set to execute its first-ever artificial rain pilot, with all scientific systems and clearances in place. As per the environment ministry, the cloud seeding flights will commence as soon as suitable weather conditions, especially cloud moisture and depth, are observed over targeted zones. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has formally conveyed its support for the project, confirming meteorological feasibility over the National Capital Region (NCR). The pilot, titled "Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation," will be executed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, which will provide the scientific, technical and operational backbone for this intervention. "All preparations are complete except few minor operational clearances. Now, we're just waiting for the right clouds to appear. The moment the weather cooperates, Delhi will witness its first artificial rain. We are not just fighting pollution-we are building a blueprint for the future. This is a national-first experiment rooted in science, executed with military-grade precision, and evaluated in real time," Delhi's environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. He added, "When we say 'Right to Clean Air', we mean it. From anti-smog guns and sprinklers to strict dust mitigation norms at construction sites, we are pushing every boundary - and now even the skies - for our people. This pilot project is not just about artificial rain, it's about scientific courage and environmental justice." Key Features Of The Pilot Project: IMD has confirmed cloud feasibility and will provide real-time data on cloud type, altitude, wind conditions and dew point to aid planning. IIT Kanpur will deploy specially-equipped Cessna aircraft with flare-based seeding systems using a proprietary formulation made of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodized salt, rock salt and a free-flowing agent that combines hygroscopic and glaciogenic cloud-seeding capabilities. Seeding mixture requirement will vary according to moisture content. A maximum of five sorties are planned, with each flight covering 100 sq. km and last at least 1 hour and 30 minutes over non-sensitive zones of northwest and outer Delhi. Flights will avoid restricted airspace, as per standard aviation protocol. Real-time impact on air quality (PM2.5 and PM10) will be measured using Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) placed in and around the seeding zones. Major clearances have been obtained. Only minor approvals, such as final flight plan clearance, remain. IIT Kanpur has previously conducted seven successful in-house cloud seeding experiments between April and July in drought-prone regions using the same aircraft and flare systems. This pilot project in Delhi builds on those trials with a specific focus on pollution mitigation. The idea is not just to induce rain, but to evaluate if such precipitation meaningfully reduces particulate matter concentration in ambient air. The project will contribute to a body of evidence for potential future use in other polluted urban regions. Nimbostratus clouds are the most suitable for seeding experiments, usually between 500 to 6,000 meters above ground level (AGL). According to the officials, the total estimated cost of the pilot project is Rs 3.21 crore and is being fully funded by the Department of Environment, GNCTD.
