By IANS,
Chandigarh : Chandigarh will get a planetarium in the next three years.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Pawan Kumar Bansal, who is also the Chandigarh MP, said that it would be his endeavour to have a world class science centre and planetarium in Chandigarh in the next three years, his spokesman said here Sunday.
Bansal said that he has asked the Panjab University to provide land for the prestigious project that would create a very interesting and interactive medium for the people of ‘City Beautiful’, especially students, to learn about different facets of science.
He disclosed that 50 percent of the total project cost of about Rs.40 crore would be borne by the central government.
Bansal has assured to provide Rs.6 crore from his MP local area development fund for the project.
The minister has also talked to the union tourism minister for the project, the spokesman added.
Bansal said that over the years scientific research as a career option has taken a back seat, probably, due to better remuneration in other fields.
“To reverse this, there is an urgent need to encourage students to take to science, support them in their research efforts and offer them rewarding careers in scientific research,” he said.
He said that students would be encouraged to become innovators.