Centre's Principal Scientific Advisor calls on J&K Governor

Principal Scientific Advisor to the Union government called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today and discussed the status of various projects taken up by the universities in the state.
During the meeting, the Governor and Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India discussed the present status of the various projects taken up by the universities in Jammu and Kashmir and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board under the aegis of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) Chapter.
RuTAG was set up in the University of Jammu and functions with the support of IIT Delhi under the overall watch of Dr Chidambaram.

The officials emphasised the importance of launching innovative projects, promote application of relevant science and technology for the resolution of practical problems faced in the day to day living and working for the rural communities residing in various parts of the state.
The Governor, who is the Chairman Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board discussed various initiatives taken by the Board towards harnessing latest technologies for improvement of the Yatra, including the 4-ton per day capacity mule-dung based biogas plant established by the Shrine Board at Banganga, Katra.
Vohra had requested Dr Chidambaram during his earlier visits to look into the efforts made by the Shrine Board towards preserving the environment.

The Shrine's initiatives include undertaking large scale plantation of trees, setting up solar water heating systems and solar power plants, automated nurseries and vermin-compost units, use of bio-digester technology developed by DRDO for sewage treatment, implementation of rain water harvesting systems among others.