Amid losses, Kapurthala's science city all set to unveil section dedicated to Covid

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 20

Closed since March 18, the Pushpa Gujral Science City at Kapurthala is all set to showcase an exhibit on Covid once it reopens.

With an average footfall of 3 to 3.5 lakh visitors annually, the science city has incurred losses to the tune of Rs 2 crore during the pandemic. However, to make up for the losses and to revive the passion for sciences among young visitors, the science city is all set to introduce a special section on Covid.

The 250 sq m exhibit, coming up at a cost of Rs 70 lakh, shall feature the history of Covid-19 and all pandemics. It shall also feature a special section on Covid symptoms, its transmission and prevention, history of all major pandemics on earth, the lifecycle of the virus, causes of its emergence, interactive sessions on myths and facts and information on the vaccine trials.

The science city, spread across 72 acres, is among the three science cities set up across the country. It is still lying closed. The science city authorities have written to the state and the Centre on the issue.

Neeliam Jairath, Director General, science city, said: “We have had operational losses of Rs 2 crore during the pandemic. We have written to the Union Secretary for Science and Technology as well as the state government to be allowed to function whenever possible as per Covid norms. We have a marketing team, which will be approaching people so that more visitors can come in once it opens. We have intimated them that we shall operate as per Covid norms and shall conduct organised tours. The proposal for the Covid gallery is expected to liven things up once the science city opens.”

Dr Rajesh Grover, Director, science city, said: “Our motive is to spread information about Covid so that students become advocates for disease prevention. The section shall detail a history of all communicable diseases.”