Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in laying the foundation stone of Planetarium and Astropark on the territory of observatory named after V.Engelgardt
22 August 2011, Monday
President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part in laying the foundation stone to Planetarium and Astropark on the territory of observatory named after V.Engelgardt of Kazan federal university.
On arriving to observatory (Zelenodolsk municipal region) Rustam Minnikhanov overviewed exposition of space technologies development and work of telescope Refractor. A detailed plan of territory development was introduced to Rustam Minnikhanov where in the nearest time construction of Planetarium and Astropark is to be started (designer – Kazan GiproNIIaviaprom ).
It is expected that Planetarium will solve such problems as growth of interest towards investigation of starry sky, astronomy and exact sciences. Extra infrastructure will be located nearby – thematic expositions (“Starry sky on earth”, “Moon beacon”), a café, hall-transformer for 100 places. By and large 28 new objects will appear on the territory of observatory. Cost of construction works will make 450 mln. roubles.
Speaking before participants of the ceremony rector of Kazan federal university Ilshat Gafurov reminded that this year astronomical observatory named after V.Engelgardt will celebrate 110-anniversary (in 1901 Vasily Engelgardt gifted to Kazan university equipment of his Dresden observatory, thus the observatory was built and named after V.Engelgardt).
By words of Ilshat Gafurov after long discussions the conception of further development appeared. It includes such areas as scientific-research section, opportunity to use space technologies for national economy, and educational set of issues. All mentioned tasks will be realized by renewed observatory, Planetarium and Astropark. Rector of the university thanked members of board of trustees – executive board of JSC “Ak Bars” Bank and President of Tatarstan for their decision to sponsor such a serious project.
Rustam Minnikhanov said he was visiting observatory for the first time and was impressed by what he had seen - the scientific base, high-skilled specialists. Today Kazan University has a federal status and serious achievements and new important tasks are set before Kazan federal university. We want it to become well-known in the world and one of the leaders in global education. He wished so that new project would be successfully realized.
RF Deputy Minister of finances Aleksei Lavrov also wished successful realization of the project and read out a welcoming telegram addressed to Observatory on behalf of RF Deputy Minister of finances Tatiana Nesterenko.
Hero of the Soviet Union, astronaut Anatoly Beresovoy and Chairman of Central board of Union of space forces veterans Igor Kurinnoy addressed participants of the ceremony with welcoming speech. They handed President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Rector of Kazan federal university Ilshat Gafurov honorary badges “For the sake of life on Earth” for personal contribution to development of domestic astronautics.
According to Anatoly Beresovoy this badge is the award for space workers. He reminded as well that the Observatory will be involved in scanning space rubbish which is a very urgent issue nowadays.
Finally “Ak Bars” Bank and Kazan federal university signed agreement for construction of scientific-educational complex “Planetarium” on the basis of astronomic observatory named after V.P.Engelgardt. The document was signed by rector of Kazan federal university Ilshat Gafurov and chairman of JSC “Ak Bars” Bank executive board.
On 11 May, speaking at a meeting in the Government House of the republic held by the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov with all municipalities taking part in it via videoconference, the Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing Utilities Sector of the republic Marat Ayzatullin reported that as of 11 May the housing construction plan has been fulfilled by 60 per cent in the republic with 1m 888thousand square meters of housing already commissioned.
On 9 May Tatarstan Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin accompanied by the Head of his Office Shamil Gafarov paid homage to Soviet soldiers buried at the Arsk cemetery in Kazan and together with war veterans and other participants of the ceremony laid flowers and wreaths to the monument of the Soldier-the Last Man Standing.
On 7 May an official delegation from Tatarstan headed by the regional Deputy Prime Minister Roman Shaykhutdinov came to the UAE to take part in an annual Investments Forum AIM Congress 2024 held in Abu-Dhabi.
The forum brought together leaders and experts of the branch from all over the world and is dedicated to transformational changes happening on the global investments landscape.
On May 6, speaking at a briefing held in the Government House of Tatarstan and dedicated to the issues of holding the sowing campaign in the republic, Deputy Prime Minister of the republic-Tatarstan Minister of Industry and Trade Marat Zyabbarov said that in the current year the sowing area will be 2.7 million hectares, which is at the level of last year, including 1.8 million hectares allocated for spring sowing.