Question : PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

(a) whether the Regional Research Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram, established by CSIR twenty five years ago has failed to make any significant contribution to the development of the region;

(b) if so, the steps taken to develop appropriate technologies for value addition of naturally available mineral, agricultural, forest and marine resources to satisfy the regional needs;

(c) whether the R&D devoted to regional resource utilization and solutions to regions environmental problems is being downgraded and closed down;

(d) whether the appointed Directors of RRLT are from academic background with absolutely no experience in technology development or management;

(e) whether the Government proposes an inquiry into the affairs of RRLT and take steps to reactivate the laboratory to fulfil its mandate; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE( INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a)&(b) No Sir. Regional Research Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram (RRL-T), has significantly contributed over the years in the domains of: agroprocessing; organic chemistry; polymers; clays & clay minerals; ceramics; alloys and composites; mineral processing; and waste water technology. Some of the technologies developed and commercialized successfully by RRL include: palm oil processing; fresh flavoured spice oils and oleoresins; integrated processing of fresh coconut; and odour control though biofilters. There are many on-going projects which are focussed for utilizing natural resources. The laboratory has been awarded the NRDC award for technology development and commercialization twice for its significant contributions. The development of ‘Swing Technology’ for Processing Fresh/Dry/Spices for Flavour, Oleoresin and Active Compounds has been awarded CSIR Technology Award 2004 for Process Technology.

(c) No Sir.

(d) The appointed Directors of RRL-T had excellent credentials of academics, some of them also had experience of Technology Development. The present incumbent, Prof. T.K. Chandrashekar was a Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur before joining at RRL-T. He was honoured with the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for his outstanding contributions in the year 2001.

(e)&(f) No Sir.