India, Sept. 25 -- New Delhi

The Delhi government is planning to trial cloud-seeding to trigger artificial rain in the Capital between October 9 and 11, officials aware of the matter said, confirming that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued clearance for the trials anytime between October 1 and 30.

Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the clearance was given to IIT Kanpur, which will operate the aircraft. The trial is likely to be done in north Delhi, with an aircraft being flown from the Hindon airbase.

"To provide relief to Delhiites from air pollution through cloud-seeding or artificial rain, the government has received permission to do so between October 1 and November 30. The trial run will be held i...