The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (TNSIDCO) has informed the Alathur Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (APMA) that it has got sanction of Rs.80 lakh under Micro and Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE CDP) from government of India for establishing a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Alathur Pharma Estate located in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu.

This is consequent to the discussion held by the chairman and managing director of TNSIDCO with the Association three months ago on the developmental projects in the estate, said S Lekshminarayanan, secretary of APMA.

He said after completing the present project, water treatment plant (WTP) and R&D in formulation development with food testing lab will be carried out in separate project proposals under MSE – CDP programme.

For realizing the scheme, SIDCO had consulted IIT Madras to conduct a technical feasibility study on the project and based on their report it approached the Tami Nadu pollution control board for their consent. On receiving the consent, SIDCO recommended the project to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), government of India, Lekshminarayanan added.

He pointed out that at the industrial estate at Alathur, all types of pharmaceutical units such as bulk, formulations, cosmetics, food items, etc. were available and their manufacture depended on demands. But it is difficult to establish an effluent treatment plant (ETP) with the available fund at present.

According to the report of IIT Madras, SIDCO will establish the STP with chemical reaction tank (CRT) by utilizing the fund. For this, the Corporation will go for tender process next week.

In 2010, under MSE – CDP scheme, APMA had got Rs.5.50 crore for developing infrastructure facilities for the pharma cluster at Alathur. Chennai Pharma Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Company (CPIIUC) is the Special Purpose Vehicle floated by the Alathur Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association to develop the pharma cluster.

The total sanctioned amount for the cluster project is Rs.63 crore, said the secretary.