Covered With Smoked Fog In The Last Week, New Delhi Plans To Lower Artificial Rain Next Week

Illustration of air pollution in India. (Wikimedia Commons/Prami.ap90)

JAKARTA - New Delhi plans to make artificial rain for the first time, in an effort to improve the quality of the city's air that has been hit by smog for a week, making it the most polluted capital city in the world.

Previously, the authorities had closed all schools, stopped construction activities, saying they would impose restrictions on the use of vehicles with an odd-even system.

Depending on legal approval and weather conditions, the local environmental minister said authorities would try to reduce artificial rain from around November 20.

It is known that the city's air quality is deteriorating every year ahead of winter, as cold air concurrently pollutants from various sources, including vehicles, industry, construction dust and burning agricultural waste.

"There is a possibility that if the current weather conditions continue, then this week or until some time to come, the pollution situation will remain the same," Delhi Environment Minister Miwi told reporters.

Rai further said that the proposals made by rain-making experts would be submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday.

"I'm sure considering the conditions we have and if we get support from everyone, at least we can do the first trial," Rai said.

Meanwhile, Delhi's Department of Environment said it plans to seed clouds, a technique that uses substances such as silver iodine to induce rainfall.

The city's air quality index hit more than 320 on Wednesday morning, the rate categorized as "dangerous" according to Switzerland IQAir, before falling to 294.

The day before, the local government issued a notification to close all public and private schools from Thursday to November 18 on the winter holiday, which was originally scheduled for January.

Separately, the Supreme Court ordered states around New Delhi on Tuesday to stop farmers from burning plant remains, as air quality worsened in the past week.