Context:

Japanese Nobel laureate supports India’s pursuit of the Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO).

More on the news

• In a collaboration between India, Japan, and British scientists about 60 years ago a historic science experiment inside a goldmine in Kolar, Karnataka, lead to the 1965 discovery of atmospheric neutrinos.
• Japan continued with experiments on or rather under their soil in the underground Kamioka Observatory situated under Mount Ikeno. Later in the 1980s, Masatoshi Koshiba’s team discovered cosmic neutrinos.
• In 1996 Japan established a dedicated neutrino observatory, Super-Kamiokande and in 2002 Koshiba won a Nobel Prize for his contribution.
• In 2015, Koshiba’s student Takaaki Kajita won a Nobel prize for the phenomenon called neutrino oscillation.
• In 2011, the Indian government announced its intention to set aside about ₹1,350 crores for an India-based Neutrino Observatory, which would be situated 1.3 km underground in Tamil Nadu. 

About Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO)

• India's INO project is now in the feasibility study stage. More than 50 scientists from about 15 Institutes and Universities in India have come together to form the National Neutrino Collaboration Group (NNCG). This group has the task of detailing various aspects related to INO activity and come up with a proposal for an underground neutrino laboratory.
• To effectively study these elusive particles, the INO will be built 1,200 meters underground in the Bodi West Hills, Tamil Nadu, shielding it from interfering cosmic rays.
• Leading institutions like TIFR and IIMSc spearhead the project, along with 20 other research institutes. The project, conceived in 2005, holds immense potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe's origin and the nature of matter.

What is a neutrino? 

• • A neutrino is a subatomic particle that is very similar to an electron.
• • It has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero.
• • Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe. 
• • Because they have very little interaction with matter, however, they are incredibly difficult to detect.

Reasons for concern about INO

• Radioactivity: There are apprehensions about potential radioactive leaks from the experiment. The project needs to ensure robust safety measures to prevent any radioactive contamination. 
• Environmental Impact: The chosen site lies within the Periyar tiger corridor, raising concerns about habitat disruption for endangered wildlife. Careful environmental impact assessments and mitigation strategies are crucial.   
• Rock Stability: At a depth of 1,000 meters, mountain rock would be under tremendous pressure and the vertical stress is expected to be greater than 270 kg per square meter. This will create problems like rock busts and roof collapse.