Odisha govt initiates steps for setting up drug park

Bhubaneswar, Sep 4: In another step towards creation of employment opportunities through industrialization in non-mineral sector, Odisha Government has initiated steps for setting up Bulk Drug Park in the State. This was discussed in a high level meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy in Lokseba Bhawan today over digital mode in which Principal Secretary Industry Hemant Kumar Sharma presented the feasibility along with technical and financial details of the park for discussion.  Considering the potentiality of a bulk drug park in the State, Chief Secretary Tripathy directed to form a State Implementing Agency (SIA) in shape of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and workout the detail proposal within a fortnight.   The proposal for setting up the park in Tata SEZ at Gopalpur received in principle approval in the meeting. The spot is well connected with port and railway. It is less than two hours reach from Biju Pattnaik International Airport. There is also an air strip at Gopalpur which can be utilized for required communication. The land parcel of around 1000 acres required for the park is available in this SEZ. The land is well connected with NH-16 which is considered as the spine for proposed Odisha Economic Corridor. It was decided in the meeting that a SPV will be formed involving IDCO as lead promoter and TSSZEL (Tata Group) and co-promoter to carry forward the project proposal.  Principal Secretary Sharma said that the park would have all the advanced  infrastructure  facilities including  central affluent treatment plant, solid waste management, warehousing, dedicated power distribution system, steam generation and distribution system, common cooling system, advanced testing laboratories, center of excellence, technology business incubator, intellectual property right services and the like.  The cost of the infrastructure development in the park was estimated around Rs 1500 crore. The project would be implemented through financial support both from Central and State Government. Principal Secretary Sri Sharma added that the park would create employment opportunity for around 5000 people. Chief Secretary Tripathy directed to send the proposal to Government of India within September 25.