Department of atomic energy defends neutrino project

CHENNAI: Even as some political parties in the state are opposing the neutrino project in Theni district, the department of atomic energy said the project besides being a marvel in science research, would kindle interest among the student community. It is cutting edge research and would be useful to students across the country. In recent days, MDMK chief Vaiko has been meeting leaders in Kerala seeking their support for stalling the underground project.
“The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project is a multi-institutional effort aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover of approximately 1,200 meter,” said public awareness division head, department of Atomic Energy S K Malhotra.
The objective of INO is to conduct basic research on the elementary particle called neutrino. Currently, 21 research institutes, universities and IITs from all over the country are involved in this project. INO is expected to galvanise interest in basic science research in the whole country and particularly in and around Theni and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu. Science students across the country would have the opportunity to pursue cutting edge research in the field of particle physics while being located in India, he said.
Vaiko met Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy as well as former chief minister V S Achuthanandan seeking their support against the neutrino observatory.