Centre grants environmental clearance to Bulk Drug Park at Una

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF and CC) has granted environmental clearance to the Bulk Drug Park at Una being set up at a cost of Rs 2,071 crore.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the coming up of the Bulk Drug Park would significantly strengthen state's position as a leading hub of pharmaceutical manufacturing in India and will also generate large-scale employment opportunities for state’s youth.

“This clearance has paved the way for the establishment of one of the India’s most significant infrastructure projects in the pharmaceutical sector aiming to reduce dependency of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), a biologically active component of a drug that provides the therapeutic effect and Key Starting Material (KSM), a fundamental raw material, from other countries,” said Sukhu.

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the environmental clearance has paved the way for fast-tracking the next stages of development. This park would play a pivotal role in driving self-reliance in the pharma sector, he added.

The Bulk Drug Park at Una comprises a total capital cost of Rs 2,071 crore with Rs 996.45 crore as grant-in-aid from the Government of India and Rs 1,074.55 crore from the state government. The project holds an investment potential of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore and is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for 15,000 to 20,000 persons.

This project is being implemented by SPV, a global leader in healthcare innovation, and Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Ltd (HPBDPIL) under the aegis of the state Industries Department.

The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers had launched the scheme for promotion of bulk drug parks in March 2020, with guidelines as notified by the Union department of Pharmaceuticals in July, 2020. The state Industries Department prepared and submitted the detailed project report which was accorded final approval by the Scheme Steering Committee (SSC) in October 2022.

The technical report related to drainage pattern, development plan, minimum disturbance to ecology, seismic vulnerability, risk assessment, sub surface deformation and landslides was prepared by NIT, Hamirpur and further rectified by the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee.