Face2News/Shimla
In a landmark development for Himachal Pradesh, the upcoming Bulk Drug Park at Una has secured the Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.
This clearance has paved the way for the establishment of one of India’s most significant infrastructure projects in the pharmaceutical sector aiming to reduce dependency of API/KSM from other countries.
The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in line with the clarion call for self-reliance in the pharma sector, had launched the Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks on 20th March 2020, with guidelines notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), GoI on 21st July 2020. The Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh, prepared and submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which was appraised by the Project Management Agency (PMA) and subsequently accorded final approval by the Scheme Steering Committee (SSC) on 11th October 2022.
The Bulk Drug Park at Una comprises a total capital cost of ₹2,071 crore, with ₹996.45 crore as Grant-in-Aid from the Government of India and ₹1,074.55 crore from the State Government. The project holds an investment potential of ₹8,000– 10,000 crore and is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for 15,000–20,000 persons.
As the project falls under Schedule 7(c) of the EIA Notification pertaining to “Industrial Estates/Parks/Complexes/Areas, Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Biotech Parks, Leather Complexes,” Environmental Clearance (EC) from MoEF&CC was a mandatory requirement.
This project is being implemented by SPV named Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Ltd. (HPBDPIL) which is working under the aegis of the Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh. SPV had placed the EC proposal before the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF&CC, GoI for making this prestigious project compliant to the required norms of MoEF&CC.
Journey of EC started with the first EAC meeting held on 10th November 2023& approval for Terms of Reference (ToR) was granted on 1st August 2024, following a review meeting on 26th June 2024. A public hearing was also conducted successfully at the project site on 20th November 2024. Subsequently, the project was considered in the EAC meeting on 29th January 2025, wherein a SubCommittee of the EAC was constituted for site inspection.
The site visit was carried out on 30th April 2025 by members of MoEF&CC. As per advisory of EAC, technical report related to drainage pattern, development plan, minimum disturbance to ecology, Seismic vulnerability, risk assessment, sub surface deformation and landslides etc. got prepared from NIT Hamirpur and further got ratified by the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee. In its 414th meeting held on 2nd September 2025, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), after detailed deliberations on key aspects including waste water management, Zero Liquid Discharge, drainage patterns, development planning, ecological sensitivity, seismic vulnerability, and associated risk factors, accorded final approval for Environmental Clearance to the Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Limited (HPBDPIL).
