Rs 70 cr waiting to be utilised by bioinformatics centres of NE

Gangtok, Nov 12 (UNI) At least Rs 70 crore is yet to be utilised by the bioinformatics centres of the North-eastern region in the current fiscal, a senior functionary of the Department of Bioinformatics, Union Ministry of Science and Technology, said today.

''The department is keen to promote and support the 21 bioinformatics centres in the Northeast and has earmarked a fund of Rs 90 crore exclusively for this region,'' Dr T Madan Mohan, Advisor of the Department of Bioinformatics, said during the opening session of the two-day interactive meet for bioinformatics centres of the Northeast here.

Representatives from Northeast centres and educational institutes are attending this meet, organised by Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology.

''Out of the earmarked Rs 90 crore, we have utilised only Rs 20 crore in the initial stages. Rs 70 crore still remains to be utilised and we are waiting for good proposals from the bioinformatics centres of Northeast,'' Dr Mohan said.

The two-day meet will deliberate on the status of the bioinformatics centres in Northeast and discus ideas for strengthening these centres.

State Science and Technology Minister S B Sudedi, who inaugurated the meet, urged the Ministry to set up a Biotech Park in Sikkim similar to the one already set up in Lucknow for entrepreneurship development in biotechnology using public private partnership.

Regarding the proposed Regional Research Centre for Sikkim by the Union Ministry, Mr Subedi will help in development and dissemination of appropriate technologies of sustainable use of bio-resources for improvement of livelihood conditions of the local people.

''There is a need of proper documentation and publication of our rich biodiversity of various species. There should be a series of publications covering different species and genera,'' Mr Subedi said.

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