The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project proposed in Tamil Nadu's Theni district would not cause any radiation but give a major boost to fundamental research in various fields of basic science, the Centre today told the Madras High Court.
The project was already delayed by 15 years, leading to cost escalation. Besides, China had upstaged its Nutrino observatory programme as one of its main science goals and India could not afford to delay further, Union Environment and Forest Ministry said in its counter to a PIL by MDMK leader Vaiko opposing the INO proposed at Pottipuram.
Director of Mumbai-based Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Sekhar Basu, who filed the counter on behalf of the ministry, submitted that the site was selected after studying various places and it was ideally suited for locating the laboratory caverns deep underground.
"The rock cover over the laboratory should be 1000 m all around to reduce naturally occurring cosmic ray background. The site also meets another criteria for the INO, that is, it should located in the lowest possible seismic zone," he said.
Strongly opposing the PIL, seeking to restrain the central and state governments from going ahead with the multi-crore project, he said Pottipuram site afforded the shortest tunnel length (1910 m) and its portal could be located in poromboke land (government land).
The rock quality was good, the surface of the hills did not have dense vegetation and the Environmental Impact Assessment confirmed that there would be minimal impact that could be easily managed due to the project.
The petitioner had not challenged the environmental clearance given by the central government.
"It is incorrect" to say that the project would cause "unimaginable and terrible disaster", Basu said.
It also denied that 1000 tonnes of explosive would be used for excavating the tunnel and said only 450 tonnes of explosives would be used over a period of three years.
With very advanced techniques now available for excavation, very minimal impact would be there.
The BARC chief denied eight lakh cubic metres of rock would be excavated and said only 2.30 lakh cubic metres would be excavated. "It is similar to the excavation for an hydro electric project," he said.
