Drug park land transfer case sent to DC: Minister

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 27

Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today said that the case for transfer of 663. 11 bighas of land in the name of the Industry Department had been sent to Deputy Commissioner, Solan for the setting up of a bulk drug park near Nalagarh.

Agnihotri was replying to a query by Krishan Lal Thakur during the question hour in the Assembly today. “Union Minister for Chemical Ananth Kumar during his visit to Baddi had acceded to the request of HP for the setting up of a bulk drug park but a formal letter in this regard is still awaited,” he stated. He added that 35 per cent of Asia’s drugs were being manufactured in Baddi and setting up of the Bulk Drug Park would help the pharma industry even more.

The minister said Himachal was grateful to the Union Minister and thought the formal approval is still awaited the process for making ample land available had already been initiated. “The case has been moved before the Deputy Commissioner, Solan on October 28, 2016 for transfer of land and as soon as this is done, we will approach Government of India,” he said. He said the member must not doubt the sincerity of the state government and rather the formal letter from the centre was still awaited.

Agnihotri also disclosed that 165 bighas land had been identified in Audwal area of Nalagarh for the setting up of a bio-technology park. He added that the land which had been initially transferred in the name of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology had now been transferred in the name of Industries Department. Now, necessary permission from Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India is being obtained to change the name of user Department.

He said Rs 1 lakh had been deposited under CAMPA fund on March 3, 2017 for diversion of 12.42 hectares forest land.