Karnataka to set up Rs 100 crore Nano-City

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) Indicating that money was no problem, the Centre has offered all help and assistance to Karnataka for setting up a Rs 100 crore 'Nano-City', if it came out with a proper proposal.

An assurance to this effect came from Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal when Karnataka Science and Technology Minister Ramachandra Gowda and State Special Representative Mahima Patel met him seeking his help to set up a Nano-City, 50 km around Bangalore.

They also told him that the state would be seeking the help of Prime Minister's Science and Technology Adviser C N R Rao, himself a nano-scientist, in preparing the report. After Information and Bio-technology, it was the turn of Nanotechnology to shine as an innovative discipline with tremendous potential to change the way the humanity lived. The state wanted to develop the city with state-of-the-art incubation centre to promote nanotech applications in IT, BT and Machine tools. The state had initially sought Rs 20 crores from the Centre, but now the government will think of scaling its project to around 100 crore, Mr Gowda said.

Mr Sibal told Karnataka delegation that funds was no constraint if its proposal was appropriate and said his Ministry had funds of over Rs 1000 crore at its command for developing science infrastructure in the country.

He also sought Central help for developing Science City to portray the growth of Science and Technology and their application in industry, human welfare and environment and recognition for Karnataka Science and Technology Academy by the Department of Science and Technology.

In his meeting with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the leaders sought two new air-conditioned trains between Bangalore and Mysore catering to the needs of growing number of IT and BT technologists.

UNI