Bhubaneswar: To exploit opportunities in the biotechnology sector, the government plans to allow bioinformatics units in residential areas without any restrictions, a facility extended to no other industry.

According to the draft Odisha Biotechnology Policy-2016, which is likely to go for cabinet approval soon, all bioinformatics (application of computer technology for management of biological information) units will enjoy blanket exemption from pollution control authority since these are non-polluting.

These may come up without any curbs on residential, commercial and industrial areas, the draft said. The existing policies have no clarity regarding locating the bioinformatics centres in residential areas.

The draft suggests a biotechnology development fund with an initial corpus of Rs 2 crore. Besides, it suggests price preference of 5% to local biotechnology units. For ISO and BIS certified biotechnology units will get another 3% and 2% price preference, it said.

Science and technology minister Pradeep Panigrahy said the new policy tries to tap the unexplored potential in the biotechnology sector, which has tremendous role in health and agriculture, and make Odisha a preferable destination for investors in the sector and besides biotechnology education and research. The draft is in advanced stages of finalization, he said.

The industries department has done a comparison of key features of biotechnology polices of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh with the draft prepared by the science and technology department of Odisha. "We got the comparative study on Tuesday. We will collate the best practices in various states and improve our draft," said U B Mohapatra, director, biotechnology.

The Odisha Industrial Policy-2015 has identified biotechnology as a priority sector and promises power subsidy to biotechnology industrial units at the rate of Rs 0.25 to Rs 1.25 per unit for five years. However, Rajasthan biotech policy accords industry status to biotech ancillaries such as life sciences, biotech research and development institutions and laboratories, which are considered far better incentives. Karnataka and Rajasthan also provide allow additional floor area ratio to biotech projects compared to other industries. Sources said among others, the state is planning to offer capital subsidy in establishment of effluent treatment plant, from 30 to 50 % (Karnataka offers 50%) to the biotechnology units. The government will also provide financial aid for strengthening biotechnology laboratories in research institutions.



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