Bulk drugs park project at MIHAN, Nagpur still waiting for environmental clearance

Mumbai, Monday, June 24, 2019:

The proposed bulk drugs park project at the Multi-modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport (MIHAN) in Nagpur has hit a major road block as it is yet to get the environmental clearance even after more than a year of designating the park as special economic zone (SEZ) for the purpose.

This comes close on the heels of Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC)- the nodal agency of the Government of Maharashtra for developing the park -having signed proposals for land allocation with five new pharma companies as part of the project.

“Pharma companies are demanding for Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) and waste disposal facilities which has not been addressed and that is why the inordinate delay in kickstarting the project,” informed a senior official associated with the development.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari along with a state level delegation led by Maharashtra FDA minister had met pharmaceutical manufacturers last year towards developing Nagpur as a pharmaceutical hub.

Earlier, MADC had signed MoUs with pharma companies- Meyer Organics, Arco Lifesciences, BDH Pharma, Centaur and SG Pharma for setting up manufacturing units at MIHAN.

Based on the MoU, Meyer Organics will set up its unit in 10 acres of land with the initial investment of Rs.50 crore which would go up to Rs.250 crore by 2020 in a phased manner. ZIM Laboratories will also invest Rs.50 crore for its unit in two acres of land.

Patanjali Ayurved has been allotted over 300 acres of land for its mega food and herbal park. Besides this, Indo-UK Institute of Health has procured 153 acres of land in SEZ for setting up a health city to promote medical tourism in India.

The Maharashtra FDA and pharmaceutical companies at Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad and Thane had in the past held several meetings to explore investment opportunities in MIHAN to pave way for development of pharma hub in the state.

Following this, the MIHAN management team gave a presentation on the modalities of setting up a bulk drugs park, implementation of guidelines, approvals and clearances required for the companies for setting up the units.

MADC is the nodal agency of the Government of Maharashtra for developing MIHAN and a multi-product SEZ adjoining the airport. MADC is also the Special Planning Authority (SPA) for MIHAN notified area under the provision of Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act, 1969.

MIHAN SEZ, which has already become operational, is spread over an area of more than 1,382 hectares and boasts of infrastructure like 6, 4 and 3 lane roads, telecom system using optic fiber cable, water supply which is both potable and for other uses, storm water drainage and sewage among other amenities. A power plant of 246 megawatt (MW) is also ready to supply power to units in MIHAN.  PharmaBiz