New task force for biotech sector

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has formed a task force for the formulation of biotechnology-related policies and implementing them. The task force will also formulate norms for setting up biotechnology-based industry in the state. The department of environment, science and technology is the nodal department for the sector.
Himachal Pradesh is endowed with rich plant, animal and microbial biodiversity.There are many rare plants, particularly in the upper reaches of Himalayas, which have immense potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry. Confirming the development a senior government official said that the department would promote appropriate research in different sectors, lay more emphasis on fields like bio resource utilization, conservation and industrial promotion that were likely to create employment and maintain networking between companies, research centers and institutions.
He said that biotechnology was a fast developing field with wide applications for all human beings and in view to this the state government was endeavoring to make the state a preferred and globally competitive destination for development of bio technology products, processes and services. Himachal Pradesh has wide scope for developing various types of bio technology based industries and to harness this potential to maximum Bio Technology Policy 2014 has been formulated.
Official said that state government is proactive in promoting bio technology enterprises by providing quick facilitation for starting the units. "It has visioned the promotion of biotechnology through its application in Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, medicine, environment, biodiversity conservation and utilization and bio-industrial development," he added.
Himachal Pradesh is already in the process of setting up a biotechnology park at Aduwal, Nalagarh in Solan district. It is proposed to setup biotechnology parks and Industrial Cluster in the state in association with the private sector to boost bio technology based ventures. Bio technology based and other auxiliary industries will be located in these parks. It is proposed to locate these parks in the Solan and Sirmour districts.