"Telangana Government Abandons Pharma City Project"

The Congress government in Telangana has made a significant decision to discontinue the Hyderabad Pharma City project, previously championed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration. Industries and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu disclosed that the project's termination was prompted by legal complications and farmer protests, along with environmental concerns.

In its place, the government plans to foster Pharma Villages across the state, aiming to decentralize the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. Minister Babu outlined the initiative, which involves establishing 10 pharma villages, with initial sites earmarked in Nalgonda, Vikarabad, and Medak districts. Each village project will span 1,000-2,000 acres, with consultations planned with potential investors regarding land requirements.

The erstwhile BRS government had touted Hyderabad Pharma City as the world's largest integrated cluster for pharmaceuticals, focusing on research, development, and manufacturing. Recognized as a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) by the Central Government, the facility was situated approximately 25 kilometers from the Hyderabad international airport. Despite aspirations to attract investments totaling $9.7 billion and generate employment for over 5.6 lakh individuals, the project faced numerous controversies, chiefly legal disputes and opposition from environmentalists and local farmers.

In response to concerns about policy consistency and industry confidence, Minister Babu affirmed the government's commitment to maintaining beneficial policies while acknowledging the need for improvements where necessary. Additionally, he highlighted the government's land acquisition efforts to expand Genome Valley, an area in Shamirpet housing over 200 life sciences companies. The expansion, slated for 300 acres, is anticipated to attract investments ranging from ₹22,000 to ₹30,000 crore in its second phase.

HBL