Neutrino Observatory Opposed By Gram Sabhas – Economics

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Gram Sabhas in different parts of Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and hydrocarbon exploration.
This is because of the fear that it would be detrimental to their respective regions.

INO is being constructed in the Bodi West Hills (Theni district) of Tamil Nadu.
The site is near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and is close to the Mathikettan Shola National Park.
Vaigai river passes through the Theni district.

The region was recovering from the Gaja cyclone and the rural economy was in a very bad state.
The project may have harmful effects on the fertility of the land in the region and adversely affect the agricultural community, farm labourers and others dependent on the profession.
Further, it can result in the migration of farm
Villagers also alleged that they were not involved in the decision-making process.
Massive scale of construction underground and controlled blasts, the vibrations from the explosions can badly affect the ecologically fragile Western Ghats.
Other concerns voiced range from radiation, structural damage to the mountain to the emission of hazardous

Environmental clearance was given after going through the geotechnical investigation report on studies carried out for INO set aside the concerns related to radioactivity or leaching of water, besides having the impact of blasting on inhabitation in the
According to the geotechnical investigation report the operation of INO will have no release of radioactive or toxic substances.
Earlier in 2019, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has upheld the environmental clearance granted in March 2018 to the project.
But, the project could not be implemented until the approval of the National Board of Wildlife is also

Persons, those who are above 18 years, living in the village whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat at the village level.

The constitution empowered the State Legislatures to define the powers and functions of the Gram Sabhas through laws passed by them.

INO Project is aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover to conduct basic research on neutrino.
The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is the nodal The observatory is to be built jointly with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology.
The observatory will be located underground so as to provide adequate shielding to the neutrino detector from cosmic background radiation.
The operation of INO will have no release of radioactive or toxic substances. It is not a weapons laboratory and will have no strategic or defence applications.

Properties of the sun: The visible light is emitted from the surface of the sun and neutrinos, which travel close to the speed of light, are produced in the core of the Studying these neutrinos can help us understand what goes on in the interior of the sun.
Constituents of the Universe: Light coming from distant stars can be studied by astronomers, for example, to detect new planets. Likewise, if the properties of neutrinos are understood better, they can be used in astronomy to discover what the universe is made up of.
Probing early Universe: Neutrinos interact very little with the matter around them, so they travel long distances The extragalactic (originating outside the Milky Way galaxy) neutrinos we observe may be coming from the distant past. These undamaged messengers can give us a clue about the origin of the universe and the early stages of the infant universe, soon after the Big Bang.
Medical Imaging: Apart from direct future uses of neutrinos, there are technological applications of the detectors that will be used to study them. For instance, X- ray machines, MRI scans, etc., all came out of research into particle detectors. Hence the INO detectors may have applications in medical imaging.

The National Green Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.