HC reserves orders on MDMK's interim plea against INO project

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High court today reserved its order on an interim petition filed by MDMK leader Vaiko to stay the work on India-based Nutrino Observatory at Pottipuram in Theni district.
A division bench of Justice S.Tamilvanan and Justice V.S.Ravi reserved orders on the interim prayer, pending the reply from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board regarding its decision to grant permission for INO.
Additional Solicitor General G.R.Swaminathan, countering the MDMK leader's submissions earlier, said there was no foreign element involved in the project as the name itself suggested. "It is going to be India-based research"
Fruits of the research would be used for India, he said.

Stating that what is Nutrino research had been explained in detail by scientists, he said INO would put India in race in the field of Nutrino research in which some developed nations were now involved.
He denied that the site for the research had been selected in a biased manner and said it had been selected after several deliberations and it was not arbitrary one.

It was an ideal locality as it was a rain shadow region. The environment clearance had been given after environment impact study.
He denied that forests would be affected and said forests were actually located away from the region where INO was to be set up.

Tunnels would be formed by engineers using latest techniques and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board engineers were among the top experts in the world in using minium explosives for drilling tunnels.
Water was being supplied by Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board from some other site."Creating a tunnel for 1.2km in such a vast land running to several hundred kms is like driving a nail in the wall," he said.
"There is no habitation no farms no wild animals in the area. The area was actually dry area full of shrubs, it was a notional forest area," he said.
Swaminathan said people in the area had been educated about the project and they were not against it.

Vaiko said roads had been laid for two KM and officials "were progressing with the work at great speed "and sought a stay on the works. He had submitted that India, a signatory of the UN convention on the heritage site, could not destroy the heritage environment site in Theni district for setting up the INO.