Manpreet Badal asks Centre to set up pharma park in Bathinda
Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Oct, 2021 10:35 AM
Chandigarh, Oct 22 (IANS) Building a pharmaceutical park in Punjab's Bathinda would serve the entire country, particularly the northern region, state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said on Friday.
Raising the demand at a meeting with Union Health and Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Badal said it is equally important to diversify Punjab's economy as well as its agriculture.
Mandaviya carefully listened to the facts presented and assured the Finance Minister that he would give the proposal the highest consideration.
Being a border state, Punjab must employ its youth productively to avoid them falling victim to sinister designs emanating from neighbours, said Badal, while adding the establishment of a pharmaceutical park would provide direct employment to around 100,000 people and indirect employment to nearly 200,000 people.
He stressed the presence of a fully operational 'A' level railway station, availability of over 1,350 acres, and proximity to the Bathinda Oil Refinery make this site ideal for establishing a pharma park.
He said 134 acres of water bodies, lakes, and ponds bolster the land cluster greatly, providing many additional benefits for establishing, maintaining, and operating a pharma facility.
The pharma industry will also receive substantial support from some of the largest USFDA-approved pharmaceutical companies, such as Sun Pharma, Centrient, and IOL Chemicals.
In a statement, Randhawa, who also holds the Home portfolio, said "this illogical decision was absolutely against the spirit of the raising the border guarding forces, which were required to focus on the international border and act as the first line of defence".
The world's largest vaccination drive against Covid-19 is being conducted in India, "and it will be a special occasion to celebrate when we complete administering 100 crore doses of vaccines", said the source.
Bhartiya Kisan Union Tikait district vice president Balkar Singh had already made it clear that, "No political leader will be allowed to share the stage where only Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders will be present."
The incident took place on Tuesday during a demonstration by the BJP in front of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's official residence over the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's (DDMA) order restricting celebration of Chhath Puja in the national capital.
The minister and his son are accused in the October 3 incident in which nine persons, including four farmers, were mowed down by SUVs. The minister's son Ashish Mishra has already been arrested.
It's likely that Sidhu will put forth the list of demands in the Punjab government as he is upset with the appointments in the government. He has resigned from the post of state president, but it has not been accepted yet by Sonia Gandhi. The meeting gains significance as it comes ahead of the CWC meeting.
