GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 Cloud-Seeding to curb Air Pollution 1266. SHRI SUNIL BOSE: SHRI K C VENUGOPAL: DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE: SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C: DR. RAJ KUMAR CHABBEWAL: DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has planned or approved any cloud-seeding or weather-modification projects in the country, if so, the details and outcome thereof; (b) the reasons for proceeding with the cloud seeding, despite the Meteorological Department’s warning of insufficient cloud cover for seeding; (c) whether the experts have been consulted in this regard and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government is aware of any potential adverse environmental impacts of the use of cloud seeding as a pollution control measure in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (e) the details of the total expenditure incurred on the cloud seeding trial conducted in Delhi in October 2025 agency and head-wise; (f) the details of tendering, procurement and payments made to private or research institutions involved in the trial and whether the Government will publish the audit or utilisation report of the funds utilised and if so, the timeline for its release; and (g) whether the Government has any plans to extend cloud-seeding to drought prone areas of Tirunelveli district during drought like conditions and the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor? 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (g): As reported by Dept. of Environment, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, a pilot project titled “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation” has been taken up by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 3.2146 Crore, and has been sanctioned to IIT Kanpur.