The Department of Ayush has accorded sanction to establish two more Traditional Ayush Clusters, one in Tamil Nadu and other in Karnataka. The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting held in New Delhi, last Tuesday. Cluster formation was one of the long pending demands of both the states.

This is the second time Ayush Department is giving approval to launch clusters in various places in the country. Earlier the department has accorded sanction for four Ayush clusters to be started one in Thrissur in Kerala, one in Amruthsar in Punjab and one each in Konkan and Pune in Maharashtra.

For the Tamil Nadu traditional cluster, a sum of Rs 16.6 crore has been sanctioned. For Karnataka cluster, Ayush has sanctioned Rs 17 crore, it is learnt.

In April this year, TACT, the Traditional Ayush Cluster of Tamil Nadu Pvt Ltd, the Special Purpose Vehicle formed by the Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) to launch the Cluster, had submitted a detailed project report to the department of Ayush.

According to sources from TASUDMA, the TACT will be established in Sriperumpudur, the industrial corridor on the Chennai-Bangalore national high way. They said the project will commence operation within one year. The association had enrolled about 20 ISM companies with GMP facilities as the founder shareholders of the cluster.

An Ayurvedic expert with the TACT said the project will finish in two phases. The first phase is on a budget of Rs 10.66 crore covering development, analytical, pharmacological, toxicological labs, raw-material bank & warehouse, common processing facility, display centre and common training and conference facility. It will be completed in one year.

The second phase of the project will be completed in two years, which will include installation of new equipments and instruments and extension of facilities. The scheme will propel the micro, medium and small industries into greater heights as the cluster will enhance capacity, reduce overheads, improve quality of products and packaging, he said.

Representing TACT, Dr V Dharmalingam, chairman-TACT, Dr Thirunarayanan, ayurvedic expert and Dr J J Vijayapal, ayurvedic consultant with TASUDMA have participated in the meeting held in New Delhi.