Science park coming up in Madurai as part of INO project

Science park coming up as part of INO project

Madurai, Oct 20 (PTI) A science park will come up as part of India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project which is being established in Theni district.
The Environment and Forests Ministry on Monday had cleared the Rs 1,200 crore underground INO project (to study subatomic particles called neutrinos) in the West Bodi Hills, an Observatory spokesman told reporters here last night.
A committee, which was looking into the project, had recommended that a science park be set up either at Theni or at any other accessible place.
"We have made a formal request to the State Government and the Theni district administration to allot land for the park. They were very receptive," a senior official said.
The park will give an experience of "learning science while playing." Several outreach programmes will be conducted in Tamil for better understanding of rural students.
"Our objective is to involve locals in science activities.
We will have many programmes in Tamil, not only in Theni but also in surrounding areas like Madurai", the official said.
The INO team will approach the Atomic Energy Commission and cabinet to seek clearance. The AEC and the Department of Science and Technology funded the project.
"At the Theni site, we will have only the detector for experimental studies. We will have a laboratory in the Madurai centre for data analysis," the official added.
Agreements of cooperation with leading educational institutions in and around Madurai are expected.