Defence Minister A.K. Antony will lay the foundation stone for the National Institute of Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding, coming up at Chaliyam on January 4. The project, estimated to cost Rs.600 crores, is expected to be completed within two years.
Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, who heads the State-level reception committee for the stone laying ceremony, told reporters here on Friday that a host of dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence and Prime Minister?s office would arrive at Chaliyam to attend the function. The Defense Minister will be accorded a civic reception during his arrival at the Chaliyam jankar point at 9.30 a.m., he said.
The Minister said elaborate arrangements would be made to make the event a unique one with the support of an organising committee chaired by M.K. Raghavan, MP. District Collector P.B. Salim will be the chief coordinator of the organising committee, he added.
Cultural programmes too have been charted to add colour to the event on the eve of the ceremony. Jankars, decked with theme floats, will roam around the Chaliyar River from 4 p.m. to 6 pm on January 3.
Mr. Karim pointed out that NIRDESH would be an asset to the country for promoting the research and development activities relating to warships, submarines and other platforms in order to strengthen indigenous production capabilities. It will also augment the efforts of the Ministry of Defence in developing a robust defence base by providing technology support and promote ancillary industry participation in the defence shipbuilding sector, he added.
Special package for Chaliyam
Mr. Karim said a special package would be declared for the natives of Chaliyam in connection with the foundation laying ceremony. The package would include new education facilities for children in the area and other physical amenities required for the development of the region, he added.
The project details were prepared under the headship of District Collector P.B. Salim after holding discussions with the natives. Both the State government and the Union Ministry of Defence would fund for implementing the package.
Industrial parks
Mr. Karim also stated that the State government would soon move steps for starting defence-related industrial parks to take advantage of the shipbuilding unit at Chaliyam. Setting up of these special parks would play a significant role in supplying native brand of products, required for research and development activities in the field of shipbuilding, he pointed out.
According to Mr. Karim, the opening of NIRDESH will be a boost for students pursuing various courses in naval architecture. The Department of Naval Architecture under Cochin University has already expressed their deep sense of gratitude to the Union Ministry of Defence and the State government for pioneering such an initiative at Chaliyam, he said.
M.K. Raghavan, MP and District Collector P.B. Salim were also present at the press conference.
