ITANAGAR, June 16 - Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Seepage Management System and Storm Water Drainage System for Itanagar under the AMRUT scheme here today in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (retd), Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Home Minister Kumar Waii and others.
The seepage management project with an estimated cost of Rs 16.59 crore and the storm water drainage system at a cost of Rs 14.53 crore are aimed at improving the urban infrastructure related to the drainage system and urban landscape.
�Peace, both beyond and within our boundaries, are crucial ingredients for the rapid development of our country. We believe in resolving differences through negotiations in an atmosphere of trust and good will,� said the Vice President.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the Centre is giving a lot of attention to the development of the State under its Act East Policy. Now it is for the people of the State and the region to make best use of the opportunity.
�Lab to Land� policy: The Vice President today suggested that the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) should adopt a �Lab to Land� policy to benefit the society, stating that research and invention must add value to the life of the common people.
The scientists must guide the people towards alternate ways with innovative ideas. The new technologies must be transferred to the field, stated the Vice President while addressing research scholars, students and faculty members of the NERIST at Nirjuli.
Suggesting to the students, research scholars and faculty members to find solutions to the challenges of the people of the region, he said connecting with the life of the common mass, they must explore ways to address the problems such as landslides, etc., in the region.
Naidu said, �The NERIST has a special responsibility to take the lead in developing environment-friendly technologies in the wake of climate change and its adverse impact. Scientists and technocrats cannot remain in ivory towers. Science has no meaning if it does not touch the lives of the people. All scientific endeavours must aim at finding solutions to the problems faced by the society.�
Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (retd), who is also the president of NERIST Society, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Education Minister Honchun Ngandam, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, Director General of Police SBK Singh and senior officers of the State Government were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Director of NERIST, Prof HS Yadav, gave an overview of the institute and presented a paper on the �Role of peroxides in organic transformation�, while Dr Aditi Bhadra presented a paper on �Climate change and its future impact�. Dr Pradep Kumar presented a paper on �Role of anti-microbials on human health� and students of the NERIST made a presentation on the �village adoption programme�.
