Covaxin Production will Start in Pune By the End of August 2021
Bharat Biotech Company has been successfully allocated the land in Manjari, Pune. The company will set up a unit for the production of Covid-19 Vaccine “Covaxin”. They stated that the production will start by the end of August this year.
Government wants to expand the manufacturing units of Covaxin Plants because of the shortage of Vaccines.
Currently, in Pune, the actual work has been started in three phases. This includes various regulatory permits, recruitment of scientists, engineers & other staff, and inspection of machinery.
Bharat Biotech will take a help from retired scientists who are from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune
The Forest Department has 11.58 hectares of land at Manjari and in 1973 it was given to company Intervet India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Merck & Co Ltd, for production of foot and mouth disease vaccine. However, the space was vacant after the company closed.
Intervet is exiting business operations in India and entered into an agreement with Biovet Pvt Ltd, an associate company of Bharat Biotech, to transfer the land and manufacturing unit. Bharat Biotech had submitted a proposal to the state government to start the Covaxin production as soon as possible. However, the forest department objected and an appeal was filed in the Bombay High Court.
The court ordered the state government to provide the site to the company as coronavirus vaccines are currently required. The land has been transferred accordingly.
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District Collector “Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh” Information
Pune District Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh said, “The process of transferring land to this company has been completed. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Labor Department, etc. are in the process of issuing permits and the company plans to start production of the vaccine by the end of August.”
He further informed, “Currently, the recruitment process for scientists and engineers has begun. The help of retired scientists from the National Institute of Virology will be sought. It will take up to 45 days to get various permits. So, work is underway to inspect the machinery brought to the project site.
