Omar to discuss installation of NMR with Centre

Srinagar, Feb 4: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he would take up with the Centre the issue of installing a Nuclear Magnetic Research Spectrometer (NMR) at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) here.

"During my visit to IIIM Jammu, I was informed by the Director that the institute intends to install an NMR in Srinagar and sought my help for its transportation.

"I will take up the issue at an appropriate forum at the Centre and facilitate its installation," Omar told research scholars and the faculty at the Institute here. The NMR, which will cost Rs 2.50 crore, is a modern machine to conduct chemical structuring of molecules.

The instrument is widely used by chemists and biochemists to investigate the properties of organic molecules. The Chief Minister said the state's economic strength is its rich bio-diversity. "While the Kashmir Valley has rich potential for aroma, medicine, software, leather and agro-based industry, Jammu is viable place for these and other industries," he said.

Appreciating the leather industry in the state, Omar said "it offers promising future as there is great availability of raw material in the Valley in the shape of sheep skin."

PTI