From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 14: Bharat Biotech Ltd, manufacturer of the Covaxin, is setting up a vaccine manufacturing unit in the Malur Industrial Area in Kolar district, deputy chief minister and Karnataka’s Covid Task Force chief, said on Friday.
Dr Narayan, who is also the state’s higher education minister, said Malur was closer to Bengaluru and had very good connectivity including railway line. It is ideal for the establishment of the Covaxin manufacturing unit and can also provide air connectivity as well.
The state government has given all necessary approvals and the company is currently taking all administrative steps for establishing the unit besides starting the civil works. It is hoped that all work will be completed soon and the company will start production in the state, he said.
The deputy chief minister said the state government is ready to provide early approvals and other necessary facilities if Serum Institute of India based in Pune, which produces the Covishield vaccine, and any other vaccine manufacturing companies come forward to establish their units in the state.
100-bed hospitals in each assembly constituency
Dr Narayan emphasized the need for establishing hospitals with at least 100-beds in all the assembly constituencies as part of the drive to create the necessary health infrastructure in rural areas to deal with the current Covid second wave and even the possible third wave.
These hospitals in each of the assembly constituencies must have oxygenated and ICU beds to handle any eventuality, he said and mentioned that the state government was taking necessary steps to step up the creation of health infrastructure facilities in Karnataka.
The deputy chief minister said the Niti Aayog’s recent announcement that 40 crore doses of vaccines will be produced in the country by August this year is a very welcome development. The availability of vaccines will improve by June-July, he said pointing out that the country has already administered 19 crore doses of vaccines.
He said many companies were likely to produce vaccines in the country and some of them might establish their units in the State.
Dr Narayan said the state was receiving sizeable quantities of aid and assistance from the corporate sector from their CSR funds as also donations to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The State was receiving aid and assistance from the centre too, he added.