The 30-meter telescope, located at a height of 4,050 meters, on an island (approximately half the height of Himalayas), is expected to give a major boost to astrophysics and understanding different facets of the Universe.
“India will provide the software and hardware for the project, all of which will be developed in the country,” Vardhan told media persons Thursday afternoon, at Dona Paula, adding that the work on the telescope is expected to be completed by 2023.
“India is the major contributor and partner in the project and will spend around Rs 1,300 crore,” he said. Dr Vardhan was in Goa to attend the Foundation Day function of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula.
The project is jointly funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, which will pool in Rs 624.55 crore, and Department of Science and Technology which will contribute Rs 675.25 crore. The project is also anchored by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Science, Nainital, and Inter-university Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune.
The Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to transform India into an original producer based on Indian scientific potential and this is one major step in that direction.
Addressing the Foundation Day function earlier, Dr Vardhan urged scientists to develop a responsible and sustainable approach towards economic development of the Ocean, considering that oceans are already under stress due to over-exploitation, pollution, declining biodiversity and climate change.
“Hence, we must move fast to grab India’s legitimate share in emerging ocean-based industries, which include off-shore wind, tidal and wave energy, offshore extraction of oil and gas, sea-bed mining for metals etc,” Dr Vardhan said. “At the same time, we must not overlook the importance of keeping our ocean and sea safe and clean,” he added.
Dr Vardhan announced that his ministry is striving for big time commercialization of the bio-active substances that lie in the ocean as they have great potential for discovery of newer drugs and pharmaceuticals. He also said that in collaboration with the Central Marine Research Institute, his ministry intends to integrate marine ecology and fisheries research.
