Alwarkurichi, where the Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sciences located is a small town, on the highway between Tenkasi and Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district. It is appropriate that a Centre for Environmental Sciences is located in the serene surroundings of the tropical rainforests of Western Ghats. The center stands out as a testimony to the Industry-University link. Sri Paramakalyani Education Society of Amalgamations Group of Industries, Chennai, benevolently donated 100 acres of land to the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University to establish a Centre for Environmental Sciences. Earlier in 1992, the Centre was housed in a temporary building with five rooms in Sri Paramakalyani College of the Amalgamations group. From 1995 the center is functioning in a building of 6000 sq ft area. The main block and the first floor at a cost of 1 Crore are named after Sri S.Anantharamakrishnan, founder of Amalgamations Group of Industries. Another block consisting of library, seminar hall with video conference facilities, plant sciences laboratory and guest rooms is also established at a cost of Rs.50 Lakhs and named after Smt.Valli Anantharamakrishnan. Padmasri Dr. M.S.Swaminathan has dedicated this center to Sustainable Rural Development on 09.04.1998.
The Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sciences was established in Alwarkurichi in 1992. The genesis of the center can be traced to the historical judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of M.C.Mehta VS Union of India and others, where the introduction of Environmental Education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels was made mandatory.
The center faithfully adheres to the vision enshrined in the constitution of India that is” to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife” and to “ develop the scientific temper humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform. To make these lofty ideals the center envisages developing in-depth knowledge of and technologies suitable for the country.
In the year 2009, the Department of Higher Education of the Government of Tamilnadu has recognized this Department as Centre of Excellence in Environmental Science and awarded Rs. 1 Crore for the procurement of sophisticated equipment. The UGC has awarded one major developmental grant as “ Emerging Area” in 1995 and Non-SAP grants also have been awarded. An Innovative Programme on M.Sc. Nanoscience has been sanctioned and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has awarded grants under the FIST Programme. The faculty has received research grants from different funding agencies to the tune of about Rs 6 crores so far.
So far, 3 faculty member of the center, Dr.N.Sukumaran, Dr.A.G.Murugesan, and Dr.G.Annadurai have received the TANSA Award from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. Dr.A.G.Murugesan has received Environmental Protection Award (2003) and Dr.G. Vijayalakshmi has got Sutruchoolal Sudaroli Award (2002) from the Department Environment of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Dr.S.Senthil Nathan has received BOYSCAST Award from DST (2011-2012).
Prof.A.G.Murugesan has been bestowed with the National Award for Technology Innovation (2015-2016) by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
