Biotechnical research institute for Northeast

KOHIMA, February 9: The Northeast, which has been ranked sixth among the top 25 biodiversity spots in the world, is all set to receive its first state-of-the-art biotechnical research institute at Imphal, reports UNI. Official sources here said that in order to study and document the unique biodiversity of the region, the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) had been set up at Imphal in Manipur. It would have state-of-the-art biotechnical research facilities and the institute would be dedicated to find out sustainable development and utilisation of the resources and also generate technological package for employment opportunities and economic progress of the Northeast. The IBSD would collaborate with various organisations and universities for further research pursuit in bioresources. The IBSD which would be an autonomous body of the department of biotechnology, ministry of science and technology, would come up at an estimated expenditure of around Rs 15 crore over five years, sources added. The region, which is a distinct part of Indo-Burma hot-spot, is a genetic treasure house of plants, animals and micro-biological resources and boasts of a whopping 13,500 species of plants and 2185 varieties of vertebrates, of which 7,000 and 528 respectively are endemic.