14 Years After Approval, Odisha’s Third Planetarium In Gopalpur Yet To Take Off

Berhampur: The third planetarium in Odisha proposed at Gopalpur in Ganjam district is yet to take off the ground even 14 years after the approval of the project.

Following the demand from different corners to set up a planetarium in Ganjam, the state government had given the green signal for the project in 2007 at a cost of Rs 12 crore. It was scheduled to be completed within 3 years.

The Science and Technology department in collaboration with Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) are executing authorities of the project.

Later, the department added a proposal for construction of a science park at a cost of Rs 6.50 crore at the same complex on February 4, 2019. It was decided to construct the planetarium and the science park on 5 acres of land each.

Though 14 years have elapsed since the government gave its approval, only the boundary wall of the project has been completed at a cost of Rs 49 lakh.

According to Ashok Kumar Mishra, Regional Head, IDCO Berhampur, the department is yet to sanction the required fund of Rs 15 crore for the project. “We would float tender immediately after the sanction of the funds. We have obtained only administrative clearance,” he said.

MLA Berhampur Bikram Kumar Panda, who favoured establishment of the planetarium and the science park in Gopalpur, said he had already requested the authorities to sanction the funds immediately.

It may be noted that the Pathani Samant Planetarium in Bhubaneswar was opened in 1980 and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium in Burla of Sambalpur district on September 22, 2017.

According to educationists, the planetarium is not only a tool for acquisition of astronomical knowledge in schools but also a valuable medium for raising awareness and love of the earth.

“The planetarium impresses us with the infinity, dignity, regularity, and wonders of the cosmos and inspires minds to explore so many remaining fields of study,” said Sudhir Rout, founder of ‘Aryabhatta’, an organisation nourishing hundreds of students for a better life.