Is the Neutrino Project a boon or Misfortune to Tamil Nadu?

After a decade long wait finally the director of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Kushal Vasisht to the director of the Indian-based Neutrino observatory (INO) VM Datar issues formal clearance to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project to be set up at Pottipuram village in Uthamapalayam taluk in Theni district.

The project is promoted by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

As per the EAC recommendations, construction of the INO (India-based Neutrino Observatory) is permitted at Pottipuram village in Uthamapalayam taluk of Theni district under provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, and amendments/circulars.

About the project:

The INO to be set up in Bodi West Hills on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Theni district is one of the largest basic sciences projects in the country that would primarily study atmospheric neutrinos produced by cosmic rays in a 1,200 meters deep cave under a mountain.

Conditions to set up the INO (Indian-based Neutrino observatory):

• There should be no block in the construction of natural drainage.
• There should be a regular check in dams, bio swales landscape and other sustainable urban drainage systems that  are allowed for maintaining the drainage pattern and for rain water harvesting.
• The total water requirement for this project INO (India-based Neutrino Observatory) will be met by the Mullai Periyar Water Supply.
• The letter states that minimum cutting of trees should be done while building the INO.
• The treated effluent from STP shall be recycled re-used for flushing and plantation.
• Further, the installation of the sewage treatment plant shall be certified by an independent expert and a report shall be submitted to the ministry before the project is commissioned for operation.
•  A minimum of 1 tree for every 80 sqm of land should be planted and maintained and preference must be given to native species, according to the letter.
• Further, a compensatory plantation of 1:3 (3 trees to be planted for every felled tree) should be maintained in case of tree cutting.

Protest against the clearance

Activists who have been waging a decade long battle against the setting up of the INO in Theni. The clearance came without any public hearing conducted of those likely to be affected by the project.

Calling this clearance illegal and unconstitutional, People strongly condemn the environment clearance granted by the ministry of environmental & forests to the Neutrino project. This clearance is Ilegal, as it has violated the established laws of this country and a categorical order of NGT. While The NGT has said it is category A project in its judgment, the MoEF has still gone ahead and cleared as category B prj. No public hearing was conducted and no proper EIA was done. This is anti-constitutional, anti people and anti- national. We will strongly take this up In court of Law and in the people’s court.”

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