Pharma park on Jharkhand radar

If officials walk the talk, capital Ranchi could host Jharkhand's first ever pharma park, an idea promoted by the Union government on the lines of the present trend of earmarking geographical areas to develop specific industries like IT, pharma, auto etc.

Jharkhand Infrastructure Industrial Development Corporation (JIIDCO), an arm of the state industries department, today floated expression of interest in search of agencies to prepare a detailed project and feasibility report, attract investments and handle other allied work to set up a pharma park.

State industries director K. Ravikumar said the government had already earmarked around 50 acres at Itki and Sode areas near Ring Road on the outskirts of Ranchi.

"During our field visits, we realised that both places could be suitable for pharma parks. Once a DPR is prepared and a feasibility report comes in, we would take a call on where to go ahead," said Ravikumar, who is also MD of JIIDCO.

The total cost of the project, he added, would be known after the DPR was prepared.

In 2015, following the Union cabinet's decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in manufacturing of medical devices and allied products as a part of its responsible healthcare mission, the Centre began working on a scheme to establish pharma parks and clusters in various states to help bringing down production costs and also boost the domestic pharma sector.

Last year, a few states like Gujarat and Kerala showed interest to set up pharma parks.

Now, riding on the success of the recently concluded Global Investors' Summit, Jharkhand has set its sights on setting up at least one pharma park to begin with.

"About 10 days back, the Centre gave a formal go-ahead for setting up a pharma park in Jharkhand after which we started the ground work," Ravikumar said.

He added that the Centre would provide Rs 20 crore for the project.

Ravikumar said the proposed pharma park would be on lines of an IT or handloom park. "We will create necessary infrastructure like effluent treatment plant, drug testing lab and other requirements specific to this industry so that pharma companies can set up units," he explained.

Dr Barij N. Sinha, head of BIT-Mesra's department of pharmaceutical sciences & technology, who is also honorary secretary of the Jharkhand chapter of Indian Pharmaceutical Association, welcomed the move, saying if the project materialised, it would prove to be a big boon not just for the state but for all of eastern India.

"During the days of undivided Bihar, many pharma manufacturers used to operate in the Jharkhand region. But, over the years, owing to lack of support, these have ceased to function. In West Bengal, there are a few manufacturing companies but the situation there too is unfavourable. Therefore, we have a big gap to fill in this sector," he said.

The advantages, he added, were manifold. "Not only will jobs be created, we can also expect quality and cheap drugs if shops are set up here," Sinha said.



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