In an attempt to allay the apprehensions raised by activist Medha Patkar over the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), which is coming up in Theni district in Tamil Nadu, senior scientists of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) campus in Mumbai invited her and explained to her the safety aspects in the Rs 1,000-crore project.

Ms. Patkar had visited the TIFR campus on Wednesday.

“Ms. Patkar had some doubts and we explained to her in detail. I hope all her doubts are cleared now,” INO spokesperson Naba K. Mondal told The Hindu.

Asked whether the scientists were willing to meet other leaders who opposed the project, he said, “Our aim is to clear the doubts on INO. In fact, I have invited all leaders who have opposed this project. Ms. Patkar came and we explained to her.”

Ms. Patkar told The Hindu that detailed studies need to be carried out to ascertain the impact the project would have on the fragile Western Ghats.

The INO project involves building an underground laboratory with a rock cover of about 1200 meters.

The project is supported by the Departments of Atomic Energy and Science & Technology, which would conduct basic research on the elementary particle called neutrino.

“Detailed studies to be carried out to ascertain the impact of the project on the Western Ghats’’