Posted on January 28, 2019
Mission accomplished: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurating the restored Puducherry beach on Thursday. L-G Kiran Bedi, left, and Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy are with him. | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
Says it is proof of excellence in science
Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan on Thursday showered praise on the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) for its beach restoration work in Puducherry. He said it was an example of India’s success story in the field of science and technology.
Inaugurating the restored beach, Dr. Vardhan said the project was an example of innovative science and the outcome was there for everyone to see. NIOT, which completed the restoration work, had executed similar projects in other parts of the country.
He said that India was ranked among the top 10 nations in the world in the field of science and technology.
While India was caught unawares during the 2004 tsunami, now its early tsunami warning system was now ranked among the best in the world.
India was ranked fourth in the world in weather forecast, third in nanotechnology and sixth in scientific publications.
Dr. Vardhan said steps would be taken for extension of the beach by creating another artificial reef on the southern side.
“I will pursue this project with officials in the Ministry and ensure that the beach is extended on the southern side,” he said.
App for good deed
The Minister urged people to take care of the Green Social Responsibility and perform at least one “Green Good Deed” every day to bring about significant changes in the environmental conditions. “After a lot of research, the Ministry has come up with more than 700 small acts that can help improve our environmental conditions. We call them the Green Good Deeds. If every citizen can pursue at least one green good deed every day that would be of immense benefit to our future generations. The app is available in Google Play Store and the App Store,” he added.
Funds sought
Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi called upon the Ministry of Earth Sciences to allocate adequate funds for extension of the beach on the southern side. Terming it as a worthwhile investment, Ms. Bedi said the beach was the economic backbone and ambassador of the Union Territory and the investment could be recovered in a few years. She said that dredging must be done only by the Government of India and the work could be entrusted to the NIOT.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said that the government was planning to start container movement from Chennai to Puducherry after the capital dredging.
The government was also planning to extend the Beach Promenade till Muthialpet, he said.
Minister for Social Welfare M. Kandasamy; Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar; M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; M.A. Atmanand, Director, NIOT; and M.V. Ramana Murthy, Director, National Centre for Coastal Research; were present.
Source: The Hindu
