Mangalore, Sep 14, 2014, DHNS

It is an attempt to popularise pure science among students, says Minister

Minister for Planning and Statistics, IT, BT, Science and Technology S R Patil has said that the Regional Science Centre at Pilikula will be inaugurated next month. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik will take part in the inaugural programme.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, he said that the centre was developed at a cost of Rs 10.50 crore. The Central government and State government has shared Rs 4.25 crore each. In addition, Rs 2.39 crore has been utilised by the State government for providing basic infrastructure facilities. It is an attempt to popularise pure science among students. It is being established with a purpose to supplement science education and to organise various educational activities to foster a spirit of scientific enquiry and creativity among the people.

Stating that the sub regional science centre will come up in all the districts, the Minister said that the State government in association with National Council of Science Museum had submitted a proposal for the setting up of ten sub regional science centres at district headquarters in the State at an estimated cost of Rs 2.6 crore on cost sharing basis.
However, the Central government refused to share the funds and the State government has decided to take up the work on sub regional science centre on its own. Accordingly, the State government has already released Rs 3.6 crore to Bagalkote for the setting up of the centre. The government has decided to set up atleast two sub regional science centres in a year.

MLA J R Lobo said that a calender of programmes will be chalked out to foster a spirit of scientific temperament.

3D planetarium
The Minister said that the work on 3D planetarium is in progress and is likely to be completed in a year. The work is taken up at a cost of Rs 24.50 crore and the government has already released Rs 11 crore.

The Planetarium is being planned with a dome diameter of 18 metres. It will have a exhibition on astronomy and outdoor astronomy park.

IT promotion
The Minister said that the IT industries have been impressed upon to set up IT units in tier II cities. Tier II cities will be developed in the field of IT and BT and nano technology.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald