Ayush medicity, aroma parks, wellness centres on the cards

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 21

Having realised that British chose the idyllic location of Shimla to escape the scorching heat and diseases of the plains, the Himachal Government has embarked on a plan to rope in corporate bigwigs to invest in a mega Ayush medicity, aroma parks and wellness centres.

With the cash-strapped government desperate to attract big investment, the Ayurveda Department has prepared projects which could attract investment of almost Rs 5,000 crores. As such health tourism is the new mantra of the government for attracting investment.

The department has submitted its detailed proposals so that health tourism could be a major component of the Investors Meet to be held at Dharamsala in June later this year. “We have planned two Ayush medicities at a cost of Rs 250 crore each at Paonta Sahib and Una and five wellness centres with an investment of Rs 100 crore each at Manali, Dharamsala, Shimla, Seraj and Dalhousie,” disclosed Sanjay Gupta, Principal Secretary, Ayurveda.

Another important aspect will be contractual farming for growing aromatic plants in clusters which will help generate much-needed employment. The department will create an e-commerce web-portal for sale of herbs and provide an interface between investors and farmers. “The four agro-climatic zones of Shiwalik, mid-hills, high hills and cold dry zone will be used to grow endangered medicinal herbs ranging from the most common to the most endangered species,” said Sandeep Bhatnagar, Director, Ayurveda.

There is also a plan to set up an All India Institute of Ayurdeva (AIIA) by upgrading the Rajiv Gandhi Post Graduate Ayurvedic College at Paprola in Baijnath area of Kangra. Funding will be sought from the Union Ministry of Ayush.

The Ayush mega health resorts in picturesque locations in the lap of Himalayas will be set up with the help of private investors. “The state has the age old concept of having healing sanatorium since the days of the British Raj, as recuperation in the salubrious climes of the hill station was quick,” said Bhatnagar.

The 10 convalescence centres to be set up at a cost of Rs 50 crore will be located at Shimla, Tanda, Una, Ner Chowk, Nahan, Hamirpur, Chamba, Bilaspur, Solan and Kangra. These have been planned at location close to medical college, AIIMS and zonal hospitals. Pharmacies and private pharmaceutical industries will be set up at the three Government ayurvedic pharmacies at Jogindernagar, Majra and Paprola.