Thaindian News

Chennai, Jan 31 (IANS) A marine biotechnology park will soon be set up near Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu while the state will also get a medicinal plant biotech park, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said Monday, adding that a new biotech policy is being drafted.”We have identified 300 acres near Mamallapuram to set up a marine biotechnology park. A medicinal plant biotech park will also be established soon,” Stalin said at a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Mamallapuram is around 80 km from here.

“The biotech initiatives of the government of Tamil Nadu and infrastructure development will speed up the growth of knowledge-based biotechnology industries in the state,” he added.

Stalin said lack of laboratory space with necessary infrastructure for research and development and delay in obtaining various regulatory approvals for the products are the major problems in the growth of the biotech industry.

“Considering the need for a new policy to promote biotechnology, the state government is in the process of drafting a new biotech policy. This new policy will have many innovative features and will assist in the growth of the biotech industry in Tamil Nadu,” the deputy chief minister said.

He pointed out that Tamil Nadu was the first state to come out with a separate policy for the biotech sector in 2000.

According to him, the Rs.150 crore Ticel Bio Park-II in Chennai will be completed this year and a biotechnology core facility would be established there.

“It is also proposed to establish a biotechnology core facility in TICEL Bio Park-II with modern equipments to provide scientific and incubation support to the clients and biotech industries at a cost of Rs.19.3 crore. Further, labs with complete facilities at a cost of Rs.7.37 crore will be established,” Stalin said.