Madras Varsity to be part of DRDO’s biodefence strategy

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Madras University will soon partner with Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in the yet to be drafted national programme on biodefence besides tying up in research and development in nanoscience and technology, according to chief controller of DRDO Dr W Selvamurthy.



Distinguished scientist Selwamurthy, who is also from the southern part of Tamil Nadu, told Express the national programme of biodefence is currently being drafted and DRDO is a nodal organization. The main purpose of the programme is to protect the natural wealth of country, including plants, herbs, animals and hotspots in North East and Western Ghats, coasts, agriculture and farm products.



Selwamurthy, who inaugurated the National Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, said the state-of-the art Rs 100 crore research lab, sanctioned by the union government will play a key role in the biodefence programme. “It will test the soil and atmosphere to find out whether it is toxic or not besides regulation of new nano products in India,” he said.



Vice-chancellor of the Madras University G Thiruvasagam said Madras University will be submitting a proposal in this regard within two weeks.



DRDO has tied up with National Manufacturing Competitive Council in preparing a draft on nanoscience and technology policy which will be ready in another six months. He said there is a need for the government to multiply the investment in naotechnology. “There is a need for foundry as well as nanofabrication facility,” he said.

To a query on how much fund is required to implement the policy, he said, “The plan is to do it in phases. The first phase will require $ 2 billion to start with and later increase it to $ 5 billion,” he added.



He also said of the Rs 12,000 crore budget for DRDO, ten per cent is being offered to universities and institutes for research in various initiatives. “These initiatives will help create a knowledge bank for the next 10 years and will help DRDO in developing research into products easily,” Selwamurthy said