Manipur MP bats for nuclear medicine facility in Imphal

Our Correspondent Imphal, Sep. 27 (EMN): Lok Sabha MP Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology and Forest to open a nuclear medicine facility and gamma irradiation chamber in Imphal. Speaking on the second day of the newly constituted committee meeting, the MP expressed his desire to expand Manipur Central University to more atomic based academic research activities, application of gamma chamber and willing to strengthen the radiation biology. Pointing out that the phenomenal rise of cancer in the north-eastern states leads to significant economic drain, Dr. Singh expressed his desire for opening a replica of Tata Memorial Hospital like Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Sangrur, Punjab (under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and Punjab State Government) in Imphal to reduce the cost of treatment outside the State. He also proposed establishment of a Nuclear Reactor in Meghalaya as the state is the third uranium richest state in the country after Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. An exhibition programme may be introduced in Manipur on the research works done by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) so as to spread awareness among students and researchers on the applications of nuclear energy in power generation and others sectors, he suggested. Pointing out that the state had experienced earthquakes of magnitude of 8+ on Richter's scale in the past, he urged the committee to set up Seismological Observatory points at Manipur University and upgrade them to a permanent institution to bring together all Seismology related activities under one umbrella as the region is located in a highly active seismic zone. The MP also called for a special attention of the region which is highly prone to landslide, especially in Manipur and Nagaland. He suggested having a system of monitoring mass land movement and installation of flood warning system in Micro climatic zone through proper networking system to refrain from the damage during natural calamities.