Land acquired for first-ever Biotech park in J&K: Singh

This land was acquired by Science & Technology Department at Gaati SIDCO Phase-III Industrial Complex in district Kathua about 10 km proximal to Kathua town on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway.

Singh had been actively following up the project and got it approved during his tenure as Union Minister for Science & Technology.

The work on the project will start in the next few weeks.

This will be Govt of India's second mega project to come up in Kathua close on the heels of Keedian-Gandyal bridge sanctioned by union Surface Transport Ministry at the initiative of Dr Jitendra Singh.

Singh informed that, he had, as Union Science & Technology Minister, simultaneously moved a proposal for a Biotech park in Srinagar as well but that project has got delayed because of certain issues related to land acquisition.

Singh said the Biotech park in Kathua will be brought up at a total cost of about Rs.80 crore.

The work on the project will be carried out in three phases and the first phase will cost around Rs.23 crore on which the work will be completed in about 3 to 4 years, he added.

The subsequent phase-II and phase-III will be carried out in quick succession thereafter, he said.

Highlighting the importance of an Industrial Biotech park in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, Singh said this will help catalyze development of the region by augmenting revenues, increasing employment opportunities and promoting industrial culture as well as agricultural productivity.

This will in turn contribute to overall socio-economic growth of the State, he added.

Outlining some of the salient activities envisaged in the proposed Biotech park in Kathua, Singh said, "For research purposes there will be a Biotech Information Centre as well as pilot scale units for micro propagation and medicinal plants extraction."