INO PROJECT - LEADERSHIP FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE

Date:07/07/2010 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/07/07/stories/2010070762230300.htm INO project headquarters likely to be in Madurai    Special Correspondent Public presentation to be held at the proposed site tomorrow MADURAI: The headquarters of Rs.960-crore India-based neutrino (INO) project is likely to be established in Madurai. While moving swiftly to get all government clearances for the proposed underground laboratory along the Western Ghats in Theni district, senior scientists involved in the project have preferred Madurai to be the headquarters for this prestigious project. Proposals have been submitted to the State and Central Governments with regard to location of INO project headquarters. “There is going to be a major public presentation at the proposed site for underground observatory in Theni district (Pottipuram panchayat) along Theni-Bodinaickanur Road. This is a critical phase of our effort to get the project going by getting the support of all stakeholders/ local people,” T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, Chairperson, INO Cell – Madurai, said on Tuesday. Scientists from nearly 25 research institutes and universities in India are involved in the INO project while the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, is the host institute. Funding for this project comes from the Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Science and Technology, and various Government agencies. Dr. Jaikumar informed that the public presentation would be held on July 8 at Ramakrishnapuram on Theni-Bodinaickanur Road. Theni Collector P. Muthuveeran will preside over the presentation. “The process of obtaining forest clearance is nearing completion. If the INO establishment comes to Madurai, it will be a great thing for science in this entire region. Originally it (headquarters) was planned for Mysore but scientists thought that Madurai would be ideal since it would be closer to the observatory site in Theni district,” he explained at a meeting here. The observatory is devoted to the study of properties of neutrinos and scientists can observe the sky through neutrinos, the elementary particle about which little is known. Two man-made caves “INO project envisages two man-made caves in a mountain to house the observatory's detector. Geologists and scientists consider the West Bodi Hills near Pottipuram in Theni district as a suitable site,” Dr. Jaikumar, who is the Principal of American College, Madurai, said. © Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu