MANGALORE: Chief minister Jagadish Shettar laid the foundation stone for a 3D planetarium at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula Nisargadhama near here on Monday. The planetarium has been named after Swami Vivekananda to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the social reformer.

This 3D planetarium, which will have a dome of 18 metre diameter, will be built at a cost of Rs 24.40 core. The state government has already released Rs 11 crore for the project and a committee of technical experts will give suggestions to equip the planetarium with the necessary technology and software.

UT Alva, chief executive officer of Pillikula Nisargadhama, said this planetarium will be helpful for students and the teaching faculty. “An astronomy exhibition gallery will also be established in the planetarium,” he added.

Shettar inaugurated Guthu Mane, a heritage house, in the vicinity of the planetarium. Earlier, he inaugurated a 400-m-long synthetic track in Mangala auditorium.

Other projects

* Construction works of 1.7 km-long road between KPT Junction to Maravooru.

*A 2 tonne-capacity bioplant at Urwa market. Cost to set up this plant Rs 38 lakh.

*A 22.5 million litre-capacity tertiary treatment plant of Mangalore Special Economic Zone.

*Foundation stone-laying ceremonies of the international swimming pool, fire station at Pandeshwar, Balmatta First Grade Women’s College, sports hostel, Circle office building of forest department, and post-matric girls’ hostel.

*Release of the booklet of Vajpayee Arogyashree scheme.

~ TNN