(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) The Delhi government has decided to bear the full expense of artificial rain as a measure to combat the severe air pollution in the city, officials said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has issued an order directing the Chief Secretary to represent the government's standpoint in front of the Supreme Court on Friday.

In the event that the Central Government lends its support to this decision, the Delhi government aims to implement the first artificial rain in the city by November 20.

A senior government official said that the Delhi government has committed to covering the costs of artificial rain, with the potential for implementation by November 20, pending support from the Central Government.

In a bid to curb the air pollution in the national capital, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is mulling for an artificial rain through cloud seeding by November 20.

The idea of the artificial rain was discussed during the meeting of the Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai's meeting with the IIT Kanpur experts here on Wednesday.

According to the official, the artificial rain could be done by November 20 as the IIT Kanpur has submitted the plan to the Delhi government.

The government said that it will put the entire plan before the Supreme Court on Friday and will also seek its permission to get the help from the Central government for the same.

--IANS

ssh/sha

MENAFN09112023000231011071ID1107401972