Himachal govt nod for bio-tech park at Baddi

The Himachal Pradesh government has given approval for setting up of a Rs 200-crore bio-technology park at Aduwal in the Baddi industrial belt.

The state cabinet, which met here late Monday, in a report said the park would be built on the PPP model.The site, which lies in Solan district, is barely 50 km from Chandigarh.

The cabinet authorised the concerned department to invite bids from private developers for setting up this proposed world class bio-tech park.

The state government also decided to release Rs 14 crore for the basic infrastructure development, including road, power, water, site development and clearances and civil infrastructure for the BT incubator and other equipment.

The Centre has released Rs 9 crore for the park.

British firm Matt Macdonald has already submitted its feasibility report some time ago. The report highlighted the advantages of the location in the Baddi industrial belt, which also has one of the largest pharmaceutical hubs in the country.

The main objective of the park will be to develop low-cost technology packages for the fast growing industry in the region, besides benefiting from the available Himalayan bio-resources in the region.

The state bio-technology department has already signed an agreement with the central government and the society for promotion of bio-technology and bio-business.