Tsunami forces 24% hike in tech budget

Giving high priority to science and technology, the budget for the sector in 2005-06 has shown an impressive 24 per cent increase over the last year with tsunami destruction forcing government to give the maximum raise for oceanographic research.

The budget for the department of ocean development has increased by 64 per cent over last year's Rs 230 crore (Rs 2.30 billion) at about Rs 377 crore (Rs 3.77 billion).

The government has allocated Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 milion) for tsunami and storm warning system while another Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million) will be given to ocean data buoy programme, an important part of ocean monitoring.

Overall the budget for various science activities has gone up to Rs 16,361 crore (Rs 163. 61 billion) over the pervious year's Rs 13,147 crore (Rs 131.47 billion).

The allocation for space research this year has been increased by 24 per cent over last year's Rs 2540 crore (Rs 25.40 billion).

The space budget includes allocation for the third flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, expected to go into space in 2005-06.

Over Rs 106 crore (Rs 1.06 billion) has been kept for Indian Lunar mission, which is slated for launch in 2006-07.