Marine biotechnology park to come up near Mammalapuram

Chennai, Jan 31 (PTI): The Tamil Nadu government proposedto set up a Marine Bio-Technology Park near the famous touristspot of Mahabalipuram, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin saidtoday.

"We have identified 300 acres near Mamallapuram to set up aMarine Bio-Technology Park", he said at a function here, butdeclined to divulge the cost involved.

Stating that his Government was determined to make TamilNadu a leading global biotechnology centre, he said the statewas in the process of drafting a new Biotechnology policy.

"Considering the need for a new Policy to promoteBiotechnology, the government is in the process of drafting anew Bio-tech Policy", he said after inaugurating the"Roundtable on Biotechnology -The Development of Biotechnologyand Its Enabled services - Vision 2020" organised by CII here.

He said the policy, recently discussed at the meeting ofTamil Nadu Manufacturing Competitive Council under hisChairmanship, would have many innovative features and assistin the growth of biotech industry in the state.

Stalin also congratulated CII for conducting theRoundtable on Bio-Technology at right time as inputs from itwould prove useful to finalising the New Biotechnology policy.

He said the State was also in the process of setting upa Biotechnology Core Facility at TICEL BIO-PARK II at a costof Rs 19.30 crore. The facility would provide scientific andincubation support to clients and Biotech industries, he said.

"We have to ensure that advances in Bio-Technology doesnot erode the genetic pool and the rich diversity in flora andfauna", he said.

He also stressed the need for research and developmentactivities in the field of Bio-Technology.