TN science project up against locals, rumours
THENI: A calm breeze blows through Pottipuram but villagers are too caught up in a heated discussion to notice it.
KC Shaji, an ayurvedic doctor, is trying to convince the crowd that the proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) would bring development to the remote hill village and better their lives and not jeopardise them.
But the locals, most of them farm hands, in this village in southern Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, are far from convinced. “They are saying a 2km-long tunnel would be dug under the mountain. It requires continuous blasting for years. We are really worried,” said Swami Raj, who runs a small hotel.
India’s most ambitious science programme is also up against rumours of earthquakes, radiation leak and landslides.
INO is a multi-institutional effort to build a world-class underground laboratory to study neutrinos, one of the smallest particles that form the universe. Often called as antisocial as they don’t interact with other particles, neutrinos are being studied across the world for their unique and elusive properties.
The scientist community is thrilled — India has never attempted a project at such a scale. A neutrino detector would be built almost 2km below earth’s surface in the Bodi West Hill area.
They say it will be a big leap that will help promote research in particle physics and answer some questions about the origin of the universe.
The facility was to be ready by 2020 but protests by locals, ecological concerns and similar issues have delayed the ₹1,500 project. Politicians have jumped in, fanning fears. Last month, MDMK general secretary Vaiko addressed a protest rally and a party functionary died after setting himself on fire during the meeting.
“It is dangerous. People living in eight districts of TN and Kerala will be affected in case of a disaster. The Centre is, in fact, imposing it on TN against its wishes,” Vaiko had said.
Opposition DMK leader MK Stalin has alleged that environmental clearance, which came through in March, was given without holding a public hearing.
Deputy chief minister O Paneerselvam, in whose constituency the village falls, is facing criticism for failing to address locals’ concerns. When contacted, his office refused comment.
People like Raj say blasting rocks could trigger landslides and damage dams such as the 125year-old Mullaperiyar that provides water to five districts of southern Tamil Nadu.
“At least 600,000 cubic metres of rock have to be removed. Such blasting will harm the endemic flora and fauna of the Western Ghats, one of the eight hotposts of biological diversity in the world,” said science writer and researcher Dr A Rajagopal Kamath. He alleged environmental clearance was given without a study. “At least 15 big and small dams are situated around the project. And Idukki area lies in Zone III of the country’s seismic map. Several seismic incidents were reported from here,” he says.
But scientists associated with the project, a joint effort of department of science and technology, department of atomic energy, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, said the concerns were misplaced.
Such experiments, they said, were usually done in deep mines or tunnels built under mountains and Bodi Hills was picked after considering seismic and environmental factors.
“It is sad people who make such noises do not understand the basics of science. Most of their concerns are foolish. It is a golden opportunity for science and students will benefit most,” says G Rajasekharan, professor emeritus, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, who is associated with the project for 18 years. The tunnel would not destroy the Western Ghats, Rajasekharan said, adding the Tamil Nadu electricity board alone had dug 150km of tunnels.
“Almost all comforts you enjoy today are due to intense research in science. If you delay it again, you will be committing a big sin. It is a major project which will help the country notch a high position,” he said.
Separately, a team of 95 scientists, including many Padma awardees, have also urged political parties and activists not to delay the project.
“We assure public neutrinos are harmless. They have negligible effect on plants, water, human beings and on earth,” they had said in a statement. “We need to filter shy neutrinos from other aggressive ray particles. Incidentally cosmic rays bombard us constantly without any harm. So all apprehensions are ill-founded and without any logic.”
Several student researchers are planning a campaign to allay the fears of villagers.