World’s largest solar telescope to be set up at Pangong Lake in Ladakh

 Jammu, January 06 (Scoop News) – Chief Secretary Madhav Lal today said that the state government will extend full cooperation to the Department of Science and technology GOI in its endeavour to set up India’s National large solar telescope (NLST) at Pangong Tso Lake Merak in Ladakh region. He said that the facility will also provide employment opportunities to the local population in the area.

Chairing a meeting here today to discuss the modalities for setting up the solar telescope Chief Secretary called for following strategies which will ensure that the construction, as well as operational phases of the project can be undertaken with minimal disturbance to the local flora and fauna.

Giving details of the project Professor Tushar P. Prabhu from Indian Institute of Astrophysics Department of Science and technology (GOI), Said that the site was selected after carefully studying various scientific and environmental aspects. It emerged from the studies that the Pangong lake site at Merak was very promising and offered longer sunshine hours.

He said the site, selected for setting up the of world’s largest solar telescope fitted with a 2m reflector  will permit scientists to carry out cutting edge research to understand the fundamental processes taking place on the sun. The solar telescope will help the scientific community to study the long term changes in earth’s climate and environment and also provide useful data to carry out research in order to minimize or remove disruptions to communications network and satellites due to periodic solar winds

The meeting was also attended by Commissioner Secretary Forest Mr Shantmanu, Mr Kuldeep Chandar consultant Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Pankaj Chandan from World wildlife fund (WWF) India, Mr A.K.Singh Chief Wild life warden J&K, Mr. Lal Chand Chairman Pollution Control Board.