Bengaluru:
Finally clearing the hurdle, the Karnataka government has decided to hand over a piece of land on Hebbal Road in Bengaluru for establishment of a science research institute and a gallery. Ireland-based organisation Science Gallery International (SGI), which is a not-profit organisation, will set up the science gallery.
Science Gallery International, which is a part of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, will collaborate with Karnataka’s science and technology department to work towards establishing the institute and a gallery aimed at drawing scientists interested in research.
The project has also been proposed to be set up in Dublin and Singapore, apart from Bengaluru. The land was initially awarded to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), a central government entity, for its research institute, Law minister TB Jayachandra said.
"The land originally belongs to the animal husbandry department, and was leased to IVRI for their research institute. When IVRI said it was planning to use the space for a hostel for its international students, and quarters for its scientists, we declined. We asked them to move these facilities to Rajanakunte, where they have been awarded 110 acres. We have now decided to have the science gallery project here," Jayachandra added.
“The Cabinet has decided to terminate the lease provided to IVRI as they wanted to build residential quarters on the land. We want the land to be put to public use and hence, the new lease. The land is estimated to cost Rs 100 crore and we are expecting the Science Gallery International to contribute a matching amount to set up the gallery. The IT department will monitor the project,” Law Minister he said.
The state government has given one acre and 26 guntas of land to the science and technology department, while remaining 3 acres and 14 guntas remain with the animal husbandry department.
The Science Gallery International had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government in 2014 for establishing the gallery. As the location for the gallery could not be finalised, the project remained in limbo.
However, ending the hurdles, the state Cabinet on Thursday announced its decision to lease the land to on Hebbal Road to SGI. The SGI website says that the gallery is likely to open in 2018. The purpose of the gallery is to engage those who are aged between 15 and 25 in creative science through exhibitions and events. The youngsters will get a platform to engage in the interface between science and arts.
Indian Institute of Science, National Centre for Biological Science and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru already has tie-up with the SGI.
