Bulk Drug Park in Una Receives Environmental Clearance to Boost Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted environmental clearance for the Bulk Drug Park in Una district, Himachal Pradesh. This approval marks a significant step towards establishing the park, which aims to reduce India's reliance on foreign Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The Department of Pharmaceuticals is implementing various schemes to boost self-sufficiency in APIs and drug intermediates, with the Bulk Drug Parks scheme being a key initiative.

The Bulk Drug Park project in Una involves a total capital investment of Rs 2,071 crore. Of this amount, Rs 996.45 crore will be provided as grant-in-aid by the central government, while the state government will contribute Rs 1,074.55 crore. The park is expected to attract investments ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 crore. It is also anticipated to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for between 15,000 and 20,000 people.

Investment Potential and Employment Opportunities

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed that the Bulk Drug Park at Una will significantly bolster Himachal Pradesh's status as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in India. He highlighted that it would also generate substantial employment opportunities for local youth. Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan noted that the environmental clearance facilitates the acceleration of subsequent development phases. "This park would play a pivotal role in driving self-reliance in the pharma sector," he stated.

The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers initiated the scheme for promoting bulk drug parks in March 2020. The Department of Pharmaceuticals released guidelines for this scheme in July 2020. The state industries department prepared a detailed project report, which was reviewed by the Project Management Agency (PMA). The Scheme Steering Committee (SSC) gave its final approval in October 2022.

Government Support and Strategic Importance

A spokesperson from the state's Industries Department explained that the establishment of the Bulk Drug Park is crucial for reducing dependency on other countries for APIs. This initiative aligns with India's broader goal of achieving self-reliance in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The park's strategic importance lies not only in its potential to attract significant investments but also in its capacity to create numerous job opportunities.

The environmental clearance granted to the Una Bulk Drug Park is a major milestone in India's journey towards pharmaceutical self-sufficiency. By fostering local production of APIs and drug intermediates, this project aims to strengthen India's pharmaceutical sector while providing economic benefits through investment and employment generation.

With inputs from PTI