The Rs. 8.5 crore-Regional Science Centre here, which spans across 6.71 acres and features hundreds of exhibits aimed at stimulating interest in science among school students, was handed over to the State Government on Saturday at a ‘Dedication Function’.

The centre was developed by National Council of Science Museums (NSCM), a Kolkata-based autonomous society which functions under the Union Ministry of Culture.

Union Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch (second left) at the ‘Hall of Textiles’ after opening the Regional Science Centre in the city on Saturday. P.R. Natarajan (left), MP, is in the picture. Photo: K. Ananthan

It will now be run by Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre.

The State and Central Governments have shared equally the cost of the centre, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa via video conference from Chennai on May 6.

Addressing the function, Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said that this was the 44 science centre in the country with four of them inaugurated this year alone.

It was rapid advancements in science and technology that enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and rapid strides in other fields.

As such, such centres were vital to instil scientific temper among school students many of whom were not opting for a career in science at present. Two more science centres would be inaugurated this year at Rajasthan and Karnataka, she added.

Virudhunagar MP Manicka Tagore requested the Minister to consider sanctioning a similar centre for his constituency.

While the Minister agreed to consider it positively with even the cost likely to be borne by the Ministry, she told the MP that land had to be allocated.

Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan called for the establishment of a full-fledged planetarium in the centre.

G.S. Rautela, Director-General, NSCM, C. Sobti, Chairman of the Governing Body for NSCM, V. Venu, Joint Secretary, Union Culture Ministry. P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, and T.M. Alagiri Swamy Raju, Project Director (in-charge), Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore, took part in the function.

The centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 5.45 pm. on all days. It will remain closed on national holidays. The entry fee is Rs. 15 for adults and Rs. 5 for children. For the 3D theatre, the entry fee is Rs. 10 for adulsts and Rs. 5 for children.

The centre is located at Avinashi Road en route to CODISSIA trade centre. For further details contact the centre at (0422) 2570 325/2573 025.

Courtesy: The Hindu