Aurangabad will get one of two planned pharma hubs: Rawal

Aurangabad: Jaykumar Rawal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minister, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to set up two pharma hubs in Maharashtra in order to bring the pharmaceutical industries — that had gone left the state for tax benefits — back. One of these pharma hubs will be set up in Aurangabad’s Bidkin, Rawal said.

Rawal was speaking at the inauguration of the new building of the FDA’s divisional office at Kanchanwadi on Friday. He said the Maharashtra government is trying to bring back the pharmaceutical industries that had gone to Himachal Pradesh a few years ago as the hilly state was offering tax relief.

“With the introduction of the GST, there is a level-playing field for all states. We want those industries to return to Maharashtra along with other foreign investments. The state government will set up pharma hubs at Mihan in Nagpur and at Bidkin in Aurangabad. The pharma hubs would have a common facility centre, specialised pharma zone, single-window clearance system and laboratory facilities,” he added.

The function was also attended by assembly speaker Haribhau Bagade, Maharashtra MoS industry, mining, Waqf board, minority welfare Atul Save, Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel, Aurangabad west MLA Sanjay Shirsat, MLC Ambadas Danve and chair of the Marathwada Statutory Development Board Bhagwat Karad.

Speaking at the event, Jaleel, as well as Shirsat, Danve and Karad, raised questions on the lack of staff at the divisional FDA office. Danve said against nine posts approved for food and drug inspectors, only three have been filled. Karad said the staffing pattern has not seen a makeover since 1972. Responding to these concerns, Rawal said that lack of staff cannot be used as an excuse for poor work. He, however, added that recruitments are going on.

Talking about the new building, FDA joint commissioner Uday Vanjari said the building is equipped with laboratory, storehouse, conference room and hall.