Lok Sabha Question No. 645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-27
Subject: Thirty Metre Telescope
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## 645.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 645

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

## THIRTY METRE TELESCOPE

- SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Thirty  Metre  Telescope  International  Observatory Board has shortlisted Ladakh for setting up world's largest telescope;
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- the total cost of the project and the share of India; and
- (d) the manner in which Thirty Metre Telescope may assist to explore new vistas in the universe?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

## (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a)&(b)  The  Thirty  Meter  Telescope  (TMT)  project  is  the  joint responsibility  of  the  Department  of  Science  &  Technology (DST)  and  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  from India. As per the information provided by Indian Institute of Astrophysics  (IIA)  under  DST,  the  TMT  is  an  international project being funded by scientific organisations of Canada, China, India, Japan and USA. The Evaluation process for an appropriate site includes scientific suitability (water vapour in  the  atmosphere,  atmospheric turbulence and  number of cloud-free nights in a year), infrastructure and logistics for
- setting-up  of  such  a  large  international  scientific  project. While  Mauna  Kea,  Hawaii  is  the  preferred  choice  for  the TMT project, given the large investments that have already been  made  and  committed,  the  project  is  also  looking  at alternate sites both in the northern and southern hemispheres.  Hanle,  Ladakh  is  one  of  the  sites  being evaluated  for  hosting  the  telescope.    Hanle  being  the protected  area  in  the  state  of  J&K,  the  project  requires clearances from State and Central agencies such as environmental, defence, external affairs and home affairs.
- (c) The total cost of TMT project is about 1.5 billion US dollars. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for India's participation in the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA at a total cost of ` 1299.8 crores from  2014-2023.  From  the  Indian  side,  this  will  be  a  joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  with  a  DST share of ` 675.25 crores and DAE share of ` 624.55 crores.
- (d) TMT will enable scientists to study fainter objects far away from us in the Universe, which gives information about early stages of evolution of the Universe. Also, it will give us finer details of not-so-far-away objects like undiscovered planets and other objects in  the  Solar  System  and planets  around other  stars.  TMT  being  the  largest  optical  and  infrared telescope  in  the  northern  hemisphere  will  enable  several discoveries  which  will  surely  inspire  future  generations. Project will also provide state-of-the-art high end technologies to the country, which would benefit a number of industries and R&D centers in the country.

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