Guwahati, Sep 21 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the state will soon emerge as a focal point in India’s efforts to track space debris.
After laying the foundation stone of the ISRO’s Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur near here, Sarma said the facility will enable the space agency to track debris and help protect the country’s critical space assets.
“This facility will make Assam an important player in the national space ecosystem and adds to a list of industries across various verticals that are setting up their base in our state –semiconductor, food manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, coach overhauling, among others,” Sarma said.
He said the state government was not just bringing in industries but also creating an ecosystem where our youth have an opportunity to be part of this transformation. Sarma said two decades ago, Assam was a completely different state, characterised by agitations, dharnas, bandhs, and the activities of militant outfits like ULFA and NDFB.
During the last 10 years, due to the untiring efforts of the Assam’s people, the state has completely transformed with many institutions of national importance, including AIIMS, IIT and IIM, along with central universities being set up.
The state, however, had been lacking in the area of space science, with no space-related organisation having been set up, he said.
“A Small Space Centre is being developed with IIT to provide a platform to students and promote scientific temperament across colleges,” Sarma said.
“Assam’s tryst with space has just begun. With the ASSAMSAT project progressing steadily, we are taking a giant leap in this direction, which will help us map weather, rainfall, forests and other factors for better resource planning,” he said. ‘’In a few years, you will witness how the space setup in Chandrapur will get the same place as ISRO in Bengaluru due to its immense contribution towards research and development, which will go a long way in disseminating knowledge in space technology,’’ the CM said. ‘’We hope that Assam will soon emerge as a big name in space research,’’ he said.
He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ISRO for choosing Assam as the destination for this Advanced Radar Research Centre, which will firmly place the state in space research domain.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister, in a social media post, said the setting up of the centre was a “landmark moment for Assam” and that it was deeply satisfying that the state is set to become a home to such cutting-edge national infrastructure.
“A landmark moment for Assam. Today, we will lay the foundation stone of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur, Assam,” Sarma said in a post on X on Monday.
As part of Project NETRA, this facility will strengthen India’s ability to track objects in space and protect the country’s vital space assets, he said.
“For a state once considered far from India’s major centres of technology, it is deeply satisfying to see Assam today becoming home to such cutting-edge national infrastructure,” he said.
“My deepest gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji for considering Assam for this strategic project,” Sarma said.
The Assam government has allotted around 6.61 acres for the project.
Assam CM Himanta reviews several key projects, calls for timely completion
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday reviewed the progress of major projects, including AIIMS Guwahati and a 2,000-seater international-standard cricket stadium, and instructed to complete them on time.
He visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Changsari in Kamrup district and reviewed the medical services, infrastructure and various ongoing activities of the premier healthcare institution, said a release from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Sarma interacted with doctors, officers and other healthcare personnel to take stock of the functioning of the institution and the services being provided to the patients.
During the visit, he held discussions with AIIMS Guwahati Executive Director Ashok Puranik on steps required to further strengthen patient-centric healthcare services and ensure that people visiting the institution receive quality treatment along with adequate facilities and amenities. Sarma stressed the importance of ensuring that the institution continues to expand its capacity, and provide accessible and high-quality healthcare services.
The CM thereafter inspected the under construction cricket stadium at Amingaon and reviewed the progress of the project, the release said.
He took stock of various components of the sporting facility and the associated infrastructure being developed in the area.
The cricket stadium being built is a part of a larger sports infrastructure ecosystem being developed at Amingaon that includes modern facilities such as the National Centre of Excellence for badminton and a high-performance swimming centre.
“The integrated sports infrastructure is expected to strengthen Assam’s sporting ecosystem and enhance the state’s capacity to host national and international sporting events,” the CMO said.
Sarma also inspected the site of the proposed Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) near the integrated District Commissioner’s Office of Kamrup and the cricket stadium.
He reviewed the proposed arrangements for adequate parking facilities for visitors and the requirements relating to traffic management, connectivity and other supporting infrastructure in view of the development of the large sports complex.
The CM directed the officials concerned to ensure close coordination among all agencies involved in the various projects.
He stressed the need for integrated planning of parking, traffic movement, connectivity and other supporting facilities so that the infrastructure serves the public efficiently and contributes to the smooth functioning of the entire development area.
Sarma also directed that the projects be completed within the stipulated timelines while maintaining the required standards of quality.
“The inspection underlined the state government’s focus on developing advanced healthcare facilities along with modern, integrated sports and urban infrastructure, with the objective of strengthening Assam’s capacity to provide quality public services and emerge as a destination for major sporting events,” the CMO said.