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Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Aug. 8

A kit comprising an advanced sensor, developed by a group of national research agencies to detect gas leakages, will be commercialised soon.

After detecting leakages from liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) containers, the device gives a sound alert.

Weighing just 250 gm, the sensor is likely to be priced at Rs 400.

The sensor can be fixed, like a mosquito-repellent mat kit, to a plug point connected to a battery.

"It works at 350 degrees Celsius and it generates sound on sensing leakages," Dr Laxman Prasad, Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology (DST), told newspersons.

Dr Prasad was addressing the inaugural of an interactive meet on instrumentation organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Monday.

Developed by Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), National Physical Laboratories (NPL) and Bharat Electronics, the kit will be made available for the public soon. The project was funded by DST's Technology Development Board.

Earlier addressing the CII session, Dr Prasad said only 12 out of 31 projects that received the department's assistance were commercialised. He admitted that there are several issues that would go into commercialisation. "It is the last mile effort that is very important. In order to help companies , the department has launched a series of measures and introduced flexible norms," he said.

The board will charge only five per cent of interest. Also, there is no question of royalty payable to the funding agency. "We have made it mandatory that all projects should have industry participation. The department also allowed direct support for instrument development. This, however, would go to consumables," he said.

He said the focus of the Rs 150-crore Pharmaceutical Research and Development Support Fund (PRDSF) would be on diseases that affect the country most. Last year, at least five companies, including Biological E and Dabur, received funds.

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