Govt plans cluster development programme for pharma sector

The government plans to implement Cluster Development Programme for pharma sector with an outlay of Rs 125 crore in the ongoing five year plan under public private partnership, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

"The Cluster Development Programme for Pharma Sector (CDP-PS) is a Central Sector Scheme. The total size of the scheme is proposed at Rs 125 crore for CDP-PS for the 12th five year plan," Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said in a reply to Lok Sabha.

The Minister was replying to a query on whether there was any plan to start cluster development programme for pharma sector to enhance quality, productivity and innovative capabilities.

Kumar said the scheme would be implemented on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) format through one time grant-in-aid to be released in various phases for creation of identified infrastructure and common facilities in the form of common facilities centres (CFC) to special purpose vehicles (SPVs) set up for the purpose.

"Assistance under the scheme will be Rs 20 crore per cluster or 70 percent of the cost of the project, whichever is less, for creation of common facilities," he said.

Some of the indicative activities under the common facilities are common testing facilities, training centre, effluent treatment plant, R&D centres and common logistics centre. The department is in the process of appointing project management consultant for implementing the CDP-PS, he added.