India, Sept. 26 -- Chief Minister Rekha Gupta signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur to conduct the city's first-ever cloud seeding trials. This move essentially proposes using 'artificial rain' as a new weapon against Delhi's toxic winter smog.

The first trials are scheduled between October 7 and 11, focusing on north and northwest Delhi. This pilot project, estimated to cost Rs 3.5 crore, will see an IIT Kanpur Cessna aircraft take off from Hindon Air Base to combat air pollution. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also present at the signing ceremony at the Delhi Secretariat.

The core goal of this project is to test cloud seeding's viability in reducing pollution during the critical winter months. "We ...