Leh: The Lieutenant Governor of UT Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) met officials from Department of Atomic Energy, GoI and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat to discuss the Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment (MACE) Telescope at Hanley in Changthang area.
Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, GoI and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty informed the LG about the MACE Telescope at Hanley which is the highest and second largest Cerenkov telescope in the world.
He informed the LG about its inauguration on October 4 at Hanley and requested the HLG to grace the event.
Dr Ajit requested the LG for additional land in the area around Hanley to set up a scientific research centre.
Advisor to the LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, informed the LG about the Dark Sky Reserve at Hanley in which six habitations have been included to generate employment for local youth and carry out scientific research works.
He stated that the project proposed by Department of Atomic Energy synergises with UT Administration’s goal.
Stating that this project could attract scientists from across the globe due to Ladakh’s potential in Astrophysics-related experiments, the LG asked Dr Ajit if this project could be expedited. He also asked Dr Ajit to identify a suitable land for the said project.
He further asked Dr Ajit and concerned officials to promote about Dark Sky Reserve and the said project of setting up scientific research centre in India and abroad.
Advisor to the LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS; Commissioner, Secretary, FEE, Dr Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary to the LG, Dr L Franklin, IAS; Sajad Hussain Mufti, IFoS and officials from Department of Atomic Energy and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai were present in the meeting.
