COIMBATORE: Chief minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated the regional science park for children in the city through video conferencing on Monday. The long-awaited project was implemented by the state government in association with the National Council of Science Museums - Calcutta. The park has come up on 6.53 acres near CODISSIA fair grounds.

This will be the fourth science centre/park in the state next to Chennai, Trichy, and Vellore. The total cost of the project is Rs 8.5 crore. The cost was equally shared by the state and the Centre. It is a gift for the city's science enthusiasts. Children can have fun while learning and understanding science. It is an added attraction for the city,'' said P Iyamperumal, executive director of Tamil Nadu Council for Science and Technology.

Iyamperumal said the park would be opened to the public from Tuesday. It will have a special textile gallery to expose children to textile technology, considering the rich textile tradition of the city. The 5000sqft textile gallery will have exhibits pertaining to the textile industry's evolution from conventional to modern technology.

The Fun Science Gallery will have exhibits to impart knowledge on basic science. Swings have been installed across the premises. The gallery will display construction models of common consumer items including televisions, refrigerators and air-conditioners to enable children to understand how they function.

A giant-size globe measuring 3m in diameter has been set up using anamorphic drawings to help children see the image of Sir CV Raman from a distance. A 3D theatre will accommodate 70 people and facilitate learning through an infotainment module.

The theatre will also be used to conduct lectures on science. To provide a green ambience, the forest department has started planting saplings of various species in the park. More than 200 varieties of saplings have already been planted.

"The park offers a unique, fun-filled learning experience not only for children but for adults too," said Iyamperumal. District collector M Karunagaran was present during the inaugural function.

Courtesy: Times of India