Date:08/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/08/stories/2007050816990100.htm

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Space institute move hits a roadblock

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Space Research Institute, proposed to be set up at Ponmudi in the district, appears to have hit a roadblock with the Forest Department notifying the 100 acres of land identified for setting up the institute, forming part of the roughly a century-old Merchiston Estate, as `ecologically fragile' area.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) authorities had identified the land at the personal initiative of ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair after extensive search in the district and had even written to the Chief Minister seeking support from various Government departments for purchasing the land. The Merchiston Estate is 707.23 acres in area. It was originally run by the English and later by the Birla Group and other Indian managements. The Forest Department has now brought the entire estate, which has around 450 workers, under the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act of 2001 and banning all activities there.