With an objective to suggest measures to minimise pollution in the state and conduct high quality research in polluted areas, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) would join hands with educational institutions like IIT and Anna University to set up a research centre at the cost of Rs.5 crore in the city While inaugurating a workshop on onshore petroleum spills -impact to the environment, status in India and way forward organised by IIT Madras on Tuesday, environment minister B.V. Ramanaa said the state government had planned to set up a technology demonstration centre in the city so as to facilitate companies to demonstrate their technologies to curb pollution.

“We are planning to rope in higher education institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and Anna University for conducting high quality research,” he said.

Pointing out that the technology demonstration centre would be upgraded to high-class research centre, environment secretary C.V. Sankar said that it would set up at a cost of Rs.5 crore. “CLRI will help in reaching the research in academic institutions to the common man”, he added.

IIT-M director Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi said that Tamil Nadu had always been in forefront in demonstrating technologies and had played a pivotal role in environmental research.

-dc chn