With the Bharat Biotech International limited (BBIl) deciding to start its project development activities by March, chances of revival of biotechnology sector looks bright in the State. Consequently, the works for the much-touted Biotech Park project would gather steam.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi held discussion with BBIl CMD Krishna M Ella and urged him to start physical work of the project, so that activities in the Biotechnology Park pick up. Principal Secretary Industries, Sanjeev Chopra and IDCO CMD Sanjay Kumar Singh were also present.
Science and Technology Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav, who is taking interest in development of the Biotechnology Park in the State, also held discussion with the BBIl team recently, which has promised to start their project work earliest by March. BBIl CMD Dr Ella along with Project Head of Odisha A Arunachalam and other senior officials of BBIl were present in the meeting.
According to official sources, way back in 2007, the State Government decided to develop a Biotech Pharma Park on 64 acres of land on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and after competitive bidding, the BBIl was selected as the developer and anchor tenant of the Biotech Park.
The BBIl will be setting up a vaccine manufacturing plant and will be inviting other promoters to set up such plants as has been done in Hyderabad. The BBIl has been instrumental in creating Genome Valley Biotech Hub of Hyderabad, where more than 250 biotech companies are operating.
The biotech major wants to replicate the same here in Bhubaneswar at the Odisha Biotech Park and convert Odisha into a hub of biotechnology in the East, said Dr Ella.
However, various hurdles came on the way and the developer could not take up the project work for which there was uncertainty and recently Chief Secretary Padhi urged the BBIl authorities to take a final call on the matter. In the meantime, the State Government has announced the Biotechnology Policy of Odisha. However, such type of policies of Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh provide more incentives to the promoters for which they are attracting investors in biotechnology sector, said sources.
Against the backdrop, the BBIl has urged the State Government to review the policy and provide more incentives, so that investors will be interested to come to Odisha.
With less incentive, experts feel that the Biotechnology Policy of Odisha is a non starter, which was announced in 2016. looking at the top incentives offered by other State Governments, mid way corrections are needed in the policy, feel they.