Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin Writes To PM Modi Seeking Handover Of Biotech's Vaccine Plant To State Govt On Lease
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today asked the Central Government to give its vaccine manufacturing facility to the Tamil Nadu government on lease to start vaccine production.
Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday asked the Central Government to give its vaccine manufacturing facility to the Tamil Nadu government on lease to start vaccine production. CM wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing the unutilized Integrated Vaccine Complex.
This manufacturing unit is complete, but has been lying unutilized for the need for additional funds.
"The recent effort to get a private partner to run IVC has also not workout finding no bidders for it," CM Stalin said.
The IVC is in Chengelpet and it was set up by HLL Biotech and it is under the Union Health Ministry and the CM visited the facility on Tuesday.
It was absolutely necessary to increase domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, which is in sync with the PM's vision of "self-sufficient India" and also mass vaccination is the most potent weapon in the fight against the pandemic, he said.
The CM said, "I am very keen that this modern facility must be made functional immediately, in the interest of our state as well our nation."
"This would substantially enhance the nation's vaccine production capacity and cater to the vaccine requirements of the country as a whole and Tamil Nadu in particular."
Stalin urged that the assets of the IVC may be handed over to the state government on a lease, without any past liabilities, and with full operational freedom.
Tamil government would identify a suitable private partner immediately and make all efforts to commence vaccine production at the earliest, Stalin assured.
A suitable financial arrangement for the Centre to recover a part of its investment could be subsequently worked out after commencement of operations, he said.
"I request your kind intervention to immediately hand over the assets of IVC owned by HBL to the government of Tamil Nadu so that the facility can be put to use at the earliest," he added.
Stalin thanked the Centre for the support extended to the state in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the PTI report, DMK leader and MP, T R Baalu told reporters in Delhi that he met Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in this connection and Mansukh Mandaviya (Minister of State, Chemical and Fertilisers) was also present during the discussion.
The Centre has said it would revert to the TN government in about a week on the matter, Baalu, flanked by TN Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, said.
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