Scientists inspect 22 sites to set up LIGO laboratory, panel to take call

The Union government’s nod to set up the world’s third Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) laboratory in India has led to another discussion on the best possible site for the laboratory. The scientists have inspected 22 sites so far. Interestingly, one of them, Hingoli, has been under consideration for the last three years.

Scientists associated with the India-LIGO (conveniently called INDIGO) project have done considerable work in identifying the appropriate site for it. The project, which will have a detector that will have two L-shaped four-kilometre-long arms to detect gravitational waves, was relocated to India from Australia in 2011. Scientists have already ruled out north India because of its seismicity. They believe that Deccan Plateau is the best-suited place to set up the detector.

Hingoli is the part of the Deccan Plateau, which is considered safe from earthquakes.

Tarun Souradeep, a key co-ordinator of INDIGO and physicist with Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics had led the scientists to Hingoli three years ago to inspect a patch of land spread over 350 acres.

He said that Hingoli was one of the best-suited sites for the project, but a final decision had not made in this regard. “There are several sites. One site in Maharashtra is among the shortlisted. We have not made a final selection yet,” Mr Souradeep told selected media persons.

An official with the state government’s revenue department said that the scientists did not select Hingoli because of hurdles in land acquisition. However, Mr Souradeep said that there was no such problem. “There is no problem. We are basically studying them. There will be a formal committee, which will take a decision on the site,” he said.

“The LIGO India project was working without a formal approval. We are done with all the studies. Also, there are a lot of studies to be done. All the sites have been studied in depth. We need engineering studies to be conducted. Reports are ready. Study is being done on various parameters. Every site has its pros and cons. We have looked at 22 sites and all are very good. The formal committee will be set up soon and it will take decision,” Mr Souradeep said.

Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse said that the government would ensure smooth land acquisition if Hingoli site was selected for the project.

INDIGO will be replica of the two LIGO detectors and many of its components have already been built and are ready to be shipped from the US.