Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Talks About Smog Towers and Cloud Seeding
New Delhi [India], September 1: Gopal Rai, the Environment Minister of Delhi and a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), spoke on Sunday about the potential for cloud seeding (artificial rain) and the construction of smog towers in Delhi.
Addressing Allegations
Rai responded to claims by BJP leaders that the Delhi government was wasting money by not building smog towers. He clarified, “Yesterday, BJP leaders said that money was wasted. They do not know that on the orders of the court, the Delhi government built a smog tower in Connaught Place and the Centre built one in Anand Vihar. In such a situation, how did the Delhi government waste money?”
Condition of Smog Towers
Rai criticized the condition of the smog tower built by the Union government in Anand Vihar, stating, “Also, find out what the condition of the smog tower built by the Centre is, and why are you hiding the smog tower of Anand Vihar. We are always ready to give all kinds of support to the Centre.”
Cloud Seeding for Pollution Control
On August 30, Rai requested Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to convene an urgent meeting with stakeholders about cloud seeding to combat Delhi’s winter air pollution and secure necessary permissions. He mentioned that artificial rain has been used in other countries like China, Malaysia, and Pakistan.
Rai further claimed that the Delhi government is ready to arrange the necessary funds for cloud seeding but has not been able to acquire the necessary permissions from various departments. “For artificial rain, permission is required from many departments, including DGCA, several ministries, CPCB, and the Airport Authority of India. The Delhi government will arrange the money, but we cannot give the rest of the permissions,” he said.
Collaboration with Neighboring States
Rai highlighted that Delhi’s contribution to its pollution is only 31%, with the rest coming from neighboring states. He mentioned a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in July regarding pollution but noted difficulties in holding meetings with the governments of Haryana, UP, and Rajasthan. “I have been writing letters for five years, but the Union Environment Minister does not have time,” Rai added.
Doubts Revealed
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician who works for the Delhi government. He is responsible for looking after the environment in Delhi.
Smog Towers -: Smog towers are big machines that clean the air by removing harmful particles. They help make the air safer to breathe.
Cloud Seeding -: Cloud seeding is a way to make it rain by adding special chemicals to clouds. This can help reduce air pollution by washing away harmful particles.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Connaught Place -: Connaught Place is a famous and busy area in Delhi, known for its shops and offices.
Anand Vihar -: Anand Vihar is another area in Delhi, known for its bus terminal and railway station.
Centre -: In this context, ‘Centre’ refers to the central government of India, which is responsible for the entire country.
Permissions -: Permissions are official approvals needed to do certain activities, like cloud seeding. Without these, the activities cannot be carried out legally.