Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is mulling to renovate the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in the city into a world-class standard institution with new features in galleries.
Minister for Science and Technology Krushna Chandra Patra who was on a visit to Pathani Samanta Planetarium on Monday suggested for its renovation into a a world-class standard institution with new features in galleries. During the visit, Patra planted mango saplings on its premises.
The Science and Technology Minister has emphasised on the visibility of the presence of the Science and Technology Department in the State through the promotion of scientific temper, science communication, the establishment of Science Centres, science parks, thematic science museums, innovation hubs, and organisation of science fests and conclaves.
While visiting the Department and reviewing its activities, the Minister also suggested giving more priority to the promotion of Biotechnology, research and development.
Principal Secretary of the Science and Technology Department Chithra Arumugam along with senior officers welcomed the Minister to the Department. The Principal Secretary presented various schemes and programmes of the Department and organizations under its administrative control.
The Minister was briefed on the activities of the Odisha State Council on Science and Technology, Odisha Bigyan Academy, Institute of Mathematics and Applications, Odisha Space Applications Centre and Pathani Samanta Planetarium.
Arumugam described the activities of various agencies that include grants of financial assistance for studies, research and fellowship, UNESCO-KALINGA Science Award, quality training for Mathematics and Science teachers, various publications of Odisha Bigyan Academy and felicitation of State awards etc. She also highlighted on the activities of the Institute of Mathematics and Applications as a Centre of fundamental research in mathematics. Besides, Odisha Space Application Centre works as the apex body for space technology applications which provides remote sensing, GIS, GPS and other application solutions to Government departments, PSUs and other research organisations.
The Minister was also apprised of the planetariums, science centres, and museums in the State. Special mention was made on the new Biotechnology Policy 2024 and Biotechnology Cell in the Department.
The Department envisages to create Odisha Marine Biotechnology and Innovation Corridor, to establish a science city with a world-class state-of-the-art science museum and to transform the Institute of Mathematics and Application, the Principal Secretary said.
Minister Patra appreciated the ongoing schemes and programmes implemented by the Department. Suggesting the promotion of schemes on green energy in coastal farming systems, the Minister said that the Department should explore Solar Wind Hybrid Systems to save the environment and cost.
Addl. Secretary Sibani Mohanty, Joint Secretary Puja Mishra, Bidyutprava Rout FA-cum-Joint Secretary, Joint Secretary P K Patra, Joint Secretary S. Murmu, Deputy Secretary Urmiprava Maharana, Deputy Director Sashikant Dash, Senior Scientist Laxmi Narayan Padhi and others attended the review meeting.
