Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 29: State minister for planning, statistics, science and technology M R Seetharam informed that the much-awaited 3D planetarium will open for public by this year end.
M R Seetharam was in the city to review the progress of the 3D planetarium project which is under construction at Pilikula.
Addressing mediapersons at the DC's office here on Monday May 29, he said, "The proposal for the 3D planetarium was sent during the year 2009-10 and the cost kept on increasing. Now, the planetarium is being built at a cost of Rs 35.60 crore and will be named after Swami Vivekananda.
"The 3D planetarium will be the first-of-its-kind in India and 21st across the globe, with all the latest technical specifications. The 3D hybrid planetarium is unique in terms of its specifications. The new planetarium will be unidirectional with a dome diameter of 18 meters and will present modern inventions coupled with 3D technology, to students and science enthusiasts."
Pilikula is the best place to have Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium where you have a biological park, a heritage village and a science centre. The place is a tourists' attraction as well. We are planning to inaugurate it before the end of the year on a national level. An international conference will also be held during the program. Only the finishing work is pending now and we are waiting for the arrival of equipments from USA. Once we receive the equipments, the work will be quickly finished within the end of the year," he added.
"A fund of Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore will be alloted for the maintenance of the planetarium. It will also generate revenue through visitor's fee. There will be concession rate for the students to visit the planetarium. I will visit Mangaluru again in the month of September to review the progress of the planetarium. We need to promote the planetarium well to make it a good tourists' attraction. We are also dedicating 2D planetariums at Hubbali, Bagalkot and Vijaypura, while a mini planetarium and science centre will be built in Coorg. A proposal has been sent to construct a 2D planetarium at Gadag too," he concluded.
MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiudeen Bava, ADC Kumar and others were present.