Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announces India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary to be set up in Ladakh to boost Astro tourism
Proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be completed at Hanle in Ladakh within 3
months
LG, Ladakh RK Mathur calls
on Dr Jitendra Singh to discuss projects on leather centre, Leh Berry,
Education Fair and CSIR supported schemes
A high level delegation of scientists from Central Leather Research
Institute, Chennai will visit Ladakh by the end of this year to explore the
possibility of setting up a regional branch of CLRI, as the UT has a very rich
and wide variety of animals: Dr Jitendra Singh
In a unique and first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science
& Technology (DST), Govt of India, has undertaken to set up India’s
first-ever "Night Sky Sanctuary" in Ladakh which will be completed
within next three months.
The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at
Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. It will boost Astro
tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical,
infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
This was informed by Union Minister of State
(Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent
Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic
Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh after meeting Lt Governor Ladakh RK Mathur,
who called on him at the national capital today.
The Union Minister informed that a tripartite
MoU was signed recently among the the UT administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill
Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)
for launching the Dark Space Reserve. He said, the site will have activities to
help in boosting local tourism and economy through interventions of Science and
Technology.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that all the stakeholders
will jointly work towards the preservation of the night sky from unwanted light
pollution and illumination, which is a serious threat to the scientific
observations and natural sky conditions. It may be noted that Hanle is best
suited for the project as it is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region, away
from any form of human disturbance and clear sky conditions and dry weather
conditions exist throughout the year, the Minister added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, a high level delegation
of scientists and officials from Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai
will visit Ladakh by the end of this year to explore the possibility of setting
up a regional branch of CLRI, as the UT has a very rich and wide variety of
animals for leather research and industry and to promote bio-economy of animal
skin-derived products. He added that Charthang in Ladakh has over 4 lakh
animals mainly pashmina goats, besides Sheep and Yak. He also complimented CSIR
for organising 4 training workshops, two each at Leh and Kargil for treatment
of diseases of famous Pashmina Goats.
Dr Jitendra Singh also thanked the Ladakh
Administration for taking a decision to start the commercial plantation of “Leh
Berry”, which is gaining popularity in the entire region. The Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the aegis of Union Ministry of
Science & Technology is promoting "Leh Berry" which is an
exclusive food product of the cold desert and also a means of wide-ranging
entrepreneurship as well as self-livelihood.
The Minister said, as per the vision of Prime
Minister Modi’s Ladakh visit in 2018, the local entrepreneurs will be provided
gainful employment through farming, processing and marketing of about 100 odd
products from sea buckthorn plant like jams, juices, herbal tea, vitamin C
supplements, healthy drinks, cream, oils, and soaps in a completely organic
manner.
Mathur informed that commercial cultivation of three medicinal plants
will begin this spring season at the height of above 15,000 feet. This also
includes “Sanjeevani Booty”, locally known as “Sola” which has a very high life
saving and therapeutic properties.
Dr Jitendra Singh conveyed to LG, Ladakh that
from next year, the Department of Science and Technology will establish a
distinct and huge pavilion for Ladakh Education Fair, which will be an annual
feature as announced by Mathur. The Minister said, DST will actively
participate in correct subject choice, scholarships, career guidance, skills
development and apprenticeship with prime focus of employability of youth.