Dharwad to get digital planetarium

The technical hurdles that had stalled the Dharwad Digital Planetarium project, an initiative aimed at promoting interest in astronomy among students in North Karnataka, have now been cleared.

The State Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday, granted administrative approval for the establishment of a 2D 4K-resolution digital planetarium at the Dharwad Regional Science Centre, according to Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology N.S. Boseraju.

In a press release, the Minister stated that in 2017 the government sanctioned ₹22 crore for the construction of a 15-metre-diameter 3D 8K planetarium at the science centre. Of this amount, most of the civil works, have already been completed at a cost of ₹9.31 crore. However, the project came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 and a sharp rise in the cost of planetarium equipment, which alone was estimated at ₹29.5 crore.

Taking note of the delay, the Department of Science and Technology, based on the recommendations of an expert committee, decided to revise the proposal and install a state-of-the-art 2D 4K projection system, dome, software and audio system using the remaining ₹12.69 crore available under the project.

The Finance Department and the State Cabinet have now approved the revised proposal, and procurement of the equipment will soon begin, the Minister added.