Agartala, May 10 (IANS) A music laboratory sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) was launched Thursday in Tripura capital Agartala to boost traditional folk songs and music in the country's northeastern region.

The state-of-the-art music laboratory, first of its kind in the region, was set up at the Sachin Deb Barman Memorial Government Music College here at a cost of Rs.600,00,00.

'The music laboratory would facilitate immensely to expand and preserve traditional folk songs and music of the northeast region,' Anil Sarkar, Tripura Information, Cultural Affairs and Education Minister, said after inaugurating the lab.

'All the premier cultural bodies of the central and the state governments of the region, including the Lalit Kala Akademi and National School of Drama, must reach out to young people in the northeast to search for hidden talent'.

'To protect the northeast culture and to draw attention to its traditions, the music laboratory would play a vital role in the region,' said Sarkar, a renowned and award winning poet.

The laboratory comprises an audio recording studio, editing and training modules and components.