The DRDO is setting up a facility in Nagpur to test equipment and technologies developed by it to mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
The open field test lab will be functional within a year and will be used to simulate all forms of CBRN emergencies to validate various mechanisms to control it, a top scientist of the Defence Research and Development Organisation said.
"This lab will be part of Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) which is the nodal body for developing all kinds of technology to deal with CBRN emergencies. It will facilitate testing of various products in a closed environment without risking human exposure," DRDO's Chief Controller (Life Sciences) W Selvamurthy said.
Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for the facility and equipment required to make it functional, he said.
Headed by a senior DRDO scientist, the lab will have a staff strength of 30. The facility will be equipped with labs where scientists can simulate emergency conditions using various toxic chemical and gases to develop mechanism and test-bed technologies, Selvamurthy said.
The DRDO is also developing a range of ground-based and unmanned aerial systems to detect and map contamination zones in all geographical conditions.
The defence research body will invest Rs 285 crore till 2014 to develop these technologies which include sensors for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), building mounted radars, tracked vehicles, antidotes and specialised clothing for troops working in contaminated zones.
The sensors and radars will be able to go deep into the contaminated zones, map it and record toxic gases and material present there to help security agencies plan rescue and mitigation methodology.
As part of the project, the DRDO is also investing Rs 100 crore for setting up a national centre at Panipat in Haryana to train armed forces and para-military personnel as 'first responders' during CBRN emergencies.
