Joint commitee report on Space Institute land in two weeks; Nair

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 5 (UNI) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair today said the report of the joint committee, involving the agency and the Kerala government to look into the issue of land at Thenur village in Ponmudi for the Space Institute, will be finalised in two weeks time.

''We have got the report of the Aeriel survey of the region. The joint committee's report is expected in two weeks time. Both the reports would be looked into before taking any decision,'' he told reporters after the University of Kerala's Special Convocation conferred him with the Doctor of Science.

Asked if Kerala would lose the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Mr Nair said '' I will try my best.'' He said he held discussions with Kerala Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary regarding the space institute.

On the agency's apprehension about the suitability of the land in the affidavit filed by it in the High Court, he said the affidavit was submitted after inspecting the proposed land. ''The ISRO does not have interest in any particular land. But we want a suitable land for setting up the institute,'' he said, and added that the agency had asked for 27 acre more land apart from the 100 acres that the state government had offered free of cost.

A Joint committee involving experts from ISRO, Public Works, Survey and Revenue departments have been constituted for a joint survey of the 100 acre at Thenur village in Ponmudi. It would also look into the suitability of the land for setting up the IIST all over again.

UNI