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Decks cleared for space institute in Kerala

C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundations for the prestigious Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology at Ponmudi near here in the third week of next month, most probably on August 18.

The Institute is being established with the objective of offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral educational programmes to meet the requirements of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

In addition to the regular curriculum, the courses will have special modules for space technology and space science.

The ISRO inked a deal on Friday with the owners of the Merchiston Estate at Ponmudi, 48 kilometres from here, to buy 85 acres of land for setting up the institute.

The ISRO proposes to purchase another 35 acres in the second stage for the institute. Work has already commenced on a helipad where the Prime Minister could land for the function.

Senior civil and police officials inspected the site on Saturday to assess the security aspects of the site.

The Prime Minister has tentatively given August 18 as the date for the ceremony, but highly placed sources said there could be a date change depending on Dr. Singh’s convenience and logistical issues.

ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair has a personal interest in the establishment of the institute and the move to acquire the land for the purpose has moved at great speed ever since the ISRO officials satisfied themselves with the suitability of the land for the purpose.

Some hitches did arise along the way, mainly in the form of a notification by the Forest Department to the effect that the entire Merchiston Estate, employing some 400 workers, is an ‘ecologically fragile’ area.

This also included the area identified to set up the institute. The matter went up to the Government and the department later de-notified the entire estate, paving the way for establishment of the institute there itself.

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