Srinagar, Sep 17 (IANS): As the eighth Jammu and Kashmir Science Congress began at Kashmir University Monday morning, teaching at the university was suspended to ensure security.

Scores of specially trained commandos, paramilitary and police personnel were deployed at the university, and entry and exit was monitored strictly.

The three-day congress was inaugurated by Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who underlined the enormous challenges that Jammu and Kashmir faces in making advances in science and technology.

The vice president said there was need to raise the number of doctoral and post-doctoral research scholarships available, and said special packages should be offered by the central government to Jammu and Kashmir so that advances could be made in the fields by the state.

The vice president also observed that traditional crafts, in which the state has a rich heritage, ought not to be neglected. He said revenue generated from the state tourism sector could be used to generate employment.

Governor N.N. Vohra said the cloning of the world's first pashmina goat, 'Noori', marked the beginning of a new scientific revolution in the state.

Scientists at the local Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) cloned the world's first pashmina goat here March this year.

Vohra, who is also the chancellor of the Kashmir University, regretted that no local scientist has so far volunteered to focus attention on the alarming levels of pollution in local lakes, including the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

He asked for better coordination between the state planning department and the various universities working in the state.

The chancellor also said that the school education department should be better represented at the congress.

This is the fourth such meet organised by Kashmir University. Four earlier congresses were hosted by Jammu University.