Lok Sabha Question No. 2942 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Basic Science Laboratories
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.29 42

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/12/2015

## BASIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES

2942. SHR I VIN AYA K BHAURA O RAU T: DR .SHRIKAN T EKN ATH SHINDE:

SHR I RA HU L SHE W ALE:

W ill the Ministerof SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be please d t o state:

- (a ) whether the Governmen t proposes to  build  one  of  the  world's  largest  basic scienc e laboratorie sto understan d the very fundamenta lnature ofthe universe;
- (b) i f so,the detail s thereo f and the location s selecte d for settin g up of laboratorie s alon g with the expenditurelikel y t o be incurre d thereon;
- (c ) the manne r and exten tt o which i tis likel y t o hel p i n the researc h work;
- (d) whetherthe local sofproposed areaofthe laboratorie sare opposing such laboratories;
- (e ) i f so,the detail sthereo fand thereason s therefor;
- (f ) whether the Governmen t proposes to shif t the locatio n of the proposed laboratories ; and
- (g ) i fso ,th e detail sthereo fand theaction take n i n thi sregard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

- (a) Yes, Madam. It has been decided to build India - based Neutrino Observatory (INO) which will be a lar ge basic science laboratory and will help to understand the fundamental natu re of the Universe.
- (b) The location for INO is in the Bodi West Hills region, about 2 km from the nearest Pudukottai in Pottipuram Panchayat, Theni District of Tamil Nadu.    Por omb oke land measuring 26.82.5 hecta res has been given by the Tamil Na du Government free of cost for the purpose of establishing the laboratory at Pottipuram. An Inter - Institutional Centre for High Energy Physics (IICHEP) will be located in Madurai, near Madurai Kamaraj University. This will be the centre for all INO - related activities on site as well as in variouscollaborating institutions across th country. A pi ece  of land measuring 12.15.5 hecta res has also been acquired from the Tamil Nadu Government  for  setting  up  IICHEP.  The  financial  approval  for  the  project  wa s  given  by  the Central Government on 24th December 2014 with a budget of Rs.1584 crores. The project will be jointly  funded  by  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  and  the  Department  of  Science  a Technology.

(c) The project will focus on front - ranking physics research with elementary particles call neutrinos, including development of detectors to detect them and measure their properti subsequent  physics  studies.  Precise  measurement  of  neutrino  properties,  for  exampl difference inbehaviour s  of  neutrinos  and  antineutrinos,  is  expected  to  throw  light  on fundamental  aspects  of  the  evolution  and  structure  of  the  Universe  such  as  matter - antimatter asymmetry. It may be noted that this year's Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two neutrino physicists. This is the main science goal of the project. However, any such large bas project also results in technological benefits which will serve the larger interests o Development of detectors and associated elect roni s that will take place as part of the INO pro has already generated big interface between INO and industry. This will have cascading over time. Such an underground facility will also help carry out other studies in physic geolog y, etc., making use of the special conditions that exist deep underground. Students and technology within the country, particularly those residing in Tamil Nadu and neighb states,  will  have  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  research  involv ing  cutting - edge  science  and technology.

(d)  &  (e):  Initially,  locals  at  the  project  site  had  some  apprehensions  about  the  imp project.  However,  extensive  public  awareness  and  outreach  activities  were  undertaken scientists of the INO proj ect to keep the locals informed about the objectives of this mega s project as well as the benefits it will bring to the local communities. In addition to thi to be even more transparent, INO arranged a public meeting near the project s ite on July 8, 2010 which was attended by more than 1000 local people. All questions raised by the locals du meeting were answered to their satisfaction, after which the Theni District Collector, wh the meeting, announced that the project will be executed with the approval of the local Panchay Various surveys, fencing and civil works were progressing well at both Theni and Madurai when work at the underground laboratory site at Theni got stalled due to a PIL filed ear year. This came up before the Madurai bench of the Hon'ble Madras High Court which asked submission of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) clearance before the resea activities could begin. The application for the above clearance has been submitted to TNPCB in May 2015 and the clearance is awaited. The PIL, however, has created confusion in the mi local people about the project.

(f) No, Madam. Pottipuram site under the Bodi West Hills range is the most suitable s this project as it falls under a low seismic zone. The rock is extremely stable and stro facilitates easier and safer construction of tunnels and underground caverns.    The envir impact assessment of the project has also confirmed the suitability of th e chosen site.

- (g) Does not arise.

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