By PTI

Bangalore: The Centre would give a strong push for the growth of nano technology, which has potential to lift the quality of life of the poor, C N R Rao, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council said to the Prime Minister.

Addressing a function to announce the dates of Bangalore Nano 2007, here last night Rao noted that the Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs1,000-crore to promote the sector.

“Nano technology and science have many potentially valuable societal applications for poor people, including the creation of more efficient filtering systems for producing clean drinking water and the provision of cheap and clean energy (through more efficient solar cells),” he said.

As per the announcement the Bangalore Nano 2007 will be held on 6-7 December. The Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI) in India has funded about 100 basic science projects worth Rs60 crore.

About Rs20 crore has been released towards establishing six centres for nano science at institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and different IITs. These centres are aiming at producing useful products or devices within a reasonable time-frame.

Officials said in all, seven IITs and ten universities have been supported under the NSTI. “The Government of India and States must support through policies and financial grants, research to pursue larger social and environmental goals that could build capacities of our nation”, said Rao, also President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.