Emami set to win bid for first ayush gram in Uttarakhand

Kolkata-based Emami group, which is enhancing its presence in ayurvedic sector, is all set to win the bid for setting up Uttarakhand’s first ayush gram at Bhowali sanatorium in Kumaon region.

Bhowali is still remembered for its haunted memories of Kamala Nehru, who was admitted there for a very long time in 1930s.

After the rejection of a couple of bids on technical grounds, Emami, which has formed a consortium with a Rishikesh-based ashram and a hotel, was left the sole bidder as its both financial and technical bids were found valid.

“If everything goes right, we hope that Emami would be given the final contract for Bhawali Ayush gram. But a final decision will be taken by the Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank,” said a government official.

Nestled in the sylvan surroundings of Kumaon hills in Nainital district, the 358-bed sanatorium, established in 1912, is now working with only one doctor. But the government now wants to convert 10 acres of the sanatorium’s land into an ayush gram, a dream project of the Chief Minister.

An ayush gram will have a hospital with 100 beds, a wellness centre, a hotel, a herbal garden, a yoga centre, a drug manufacturing unit and pharmacy among various other features.

The herbal garden which would be set up at 1200 sq meter of area will also have a specialised research centre to focus on the local herbs and medicinal plants.

There would be a provision for training and skill development facilities for local people in order to create new employment and business opportunities.

An innovative hospital complete with all the five features of AYUSH ie Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy would be established.

According to government sources, an investment of a minimum of Rs 50 crore is proposed the project and all the 13 districts of the state will have an ayush gram each with government already identifying land at Champawat district.