Wednesday January 7, 02:24 AM

Source: Indian Express Finance

Astronomers seek Rs 300-cr assistance

By ASHOK B SHARMA
Astronomers have urged the government for an assistance of Rs 300 crore to strengthen India s participation in the global astronomical and space programmes and to develop domestic capabilities. India seeks to join three proposed international initiatives, which are to materialise by 2020. The initiatives are giant magellan telescope programme in Hawaii, 30-metre telescope programme, to be set up either in Hawaii of Chile, and the European extremely large telescope in Chile. Notably, India is a non-executive member of the global initiative to set up Square Kilometre Array (SKA). To be set up by 2020 either in western Australia or South Africa, the project involves an estimated investment of one billion euro. The site of the project will be finalised in 2011 while the basic design will be completed by 2013. The proposed SKA will be designed to detect life force in the universe on planets other than Earth. To be housed in 1,000km and have thousands of dishes to collect extra territorial intelligence, it would have capabilities 30 times more than Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), set up in 30km in Khodad, Maharashtra. The dean of the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), T Padmanabhan, Study and researches in astronomy and space have gained importance globally. India, which has the ability to compete and participate in the field, should not be left behind.