Andhra Pradesh Government is planning to set up a ‘Genome Valley’ between Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts to boost pharmaceutical sector, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said here on Wednesday.
Interacting with a group of pharma experts at the Lake View Guest House here, he said the government would soon appoint a nodal officer in this regard. Recalling how Telugu Desam government had set up a task force in united Andhra Pradesh in 2004, he said that a similar wing would be established to make Andhra Pradesh one of the biggest pharmaceutical hubs in the country.
Mr. Naidu, who also held a review meeting on the new sand mining policy, said the government was thinking of entrusting sand mining activities to women self-help groups. He said that sand would be crucial in building new capital and Polavaram project. It was estimated that the government works could require up to 200 lakh tonnes while private ones, 175 lakh tonnes. He said mining activity should not be at the cost of environment.
