The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : ISRO to decide on new sites in two weeks

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Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

ISRO to decide on new sites in two weeks

Staff Reporter

G. Madhavan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G Madhavan Nair has said that the organisation will give its assessment on the new sites suggested by the government for setting up the proposed Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Ponmudi within two weeks.

Talking to The Hindu here after visiting the site on Friday, Dr Nair said the ISRO teams would launch survey operations in the new sites very soon. “We want to go ahead with the project at the earliest. That is why I wanted to conduct a first-hand assessment of the situation. I have agreed that we will give our assessment within two weeks on the alternative sites.”

Mr. Nair said the government had proposed two alternative sites in place of the controversial Merchiston Estate where the ISRO had earlier planned to set up the institute. One of the sites was small in area comprising about 30 acres, and it would evidently be inadequate for the proposed institute.

The second site was a big area spread across about 127 acres in the Thennur village in Ponmudi area. “There will be problems of constructing roads to the spot through the hilly terrains and the site is very close to forests and we do not know whether there are any associated problems” Mr. Nair said.

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