In a significant milestone for Himachal Pradesh’s industrial growth, the upcoming Bulk Drug Park at Una has received Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). This crucial approval marks a major step forward in establishing one of India’s most ambitious pharmaceutical infrastructure projects.
Aimed at reducing India’s dependency on imports for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs), the Bulk Drug Park is poised to become a cornerstone of the country’s pharmaceutical self-reliance initiative.
The project, launched under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers’ Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks (2020), was formally approved in October 2022 after a comprehensive evaluation by the Project Management Agency (PMA) and Scheme Steering Committee (SSC). The Himachal Pradesh Industries Department prepared the detailed project report, which led to the clearance process and the formation of a sub-committee for site inspection by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) in January 2025.
With a total capital outlay of ₹2,071 crore, the project will receive ₹996.45 crore as grant-in-aid from the Government of India, and ₹1,074.55 crore from the State Government. The investment potential is estimated between ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 crore, with the capacity to generate 15,000 to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The project is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Ltd. (HPBDPIL) — under the supervision of the state Industries Department. The site’s technical assessments, including seismic vulnerability, drainage, ecological impact, and landslide risk, were carried out by NIT Hamirpur and validated by the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee.
Sukhu stated, “The Bulk Drug Park at Una will significantly strengthen Himachal’s position as a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and create thousands of employment opportunities for our youth.”
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan emphasized that the clearance will fast-track the implementation process and reinforce India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in the pharmaceutical sector.
Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazeem and Industries Director Dr. Yunus assured that the project will be executed in a time-bound and regulation-compliant manner, in line with the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ guidelines and MoEF&CC advisory.
Leaders from the pharmaceutical industry, including BR Sikri (FOPE), Dr. Rajesh Gupta (Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association), Rajeev Aggarwal (BBN Association), Sanjay Sharma (Pharma Testing Lab), and Rakesh Kaushal (Haroli Block Industries Association), extended their congratulations to the government, calling the project a game-changer for Himachal’s pharma ecosystem, with the potential to enhance global competitiveness and strengthen the supply chain.
