Odisha to get four new planetariums, 10 science parks: Min

Odisha's Science and Technology Minister, Ashok Chandra Panda, said on Saturday that four new planetariums will be set up in the state.

Replying to a question by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Sudhir Kumar Samal in the Assembly, the minister said that the planetariums will be set up at Baripada, Rayagada, Keonjhar and Gopalpur at a total cost of Rs 30 crore.

"Gopalpur planetarium will be set up at Rs 9 crore while Rs 7 crore each will be spent for establishing the planetariums at Rayagada, Keonjhar and Baripada," Panda said.

He said the state already has two planetariums at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur.

Responding to another question, Panda said that science parks will be established in each district and 10 such parks will be made operational in first phase of the project.

"Of the 10 science parks, locations of four have been finalised as Baripada, Rayagada and Gopalpur and Keonjhar," he said.

These locations coincide with those of the planned planetariums.