Hyderabad, Oct 21 (KNN) Industries and IT Minister of Telangana KT Rama Rao has shot a letter to centre seeking financial assistance of Rs 3,418 crores for the creation of a full-fledged Hyderabad pharma city, besides allotment of natural gas on a preferential tariff basis for use as fuel by pharma units, instead of pollution causing coal.

The Minister, recalling that ‘Pharma City’ has been recognised as a National Investment Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), urged the central government to extend financial assistance in accordance with the guidelines of the NIMZ policy.

The Minister, in his letter to Union Industries Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday, wanted the assistance given in the form of an outright grant, while in the other letter, to Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he sought allotment of natural gas to the pharm city on a preferential tariff basis.

KTR reminded the central government that Hyderabad Pharma City would be the largest integrated pharma city in the world and would greatly help in the growth of the pharma sector in the country.

He added that there was a very encouraging response from domestic and global pharma companies to the Hyderabad Pharm City in the wake of centre recognising it as a NIMZ.

He also pointed out that it would remain a source of inspiration for the industry sector in the country in carrying forward the Make in India Campaign.

''It would have an international pharma university, a logistics park, pharma training and testing laboratories, a common drug development centre and a hub for encouraging start-ups in the pharma sector,'' the Minister said.

He added that the master plan is ready for an area of 19,333 acres, and for the first phase, which will come up on 8,400 acres, detailed designs have been finalised.

The centre has already accorded environmental clearances. The Telangana government has begun work by forming a special purpose vehicle. Pharma City is expected to land investments worth 64,000 crores and create about 5.6 lakh jobs, both directly and indirectly.

The minister sought a grant-in-aid of Rs. 1,318 crores for the creation of external infrastructure, besides 2,100 crores, which would be half the expenditure incurred for the creation of internal infrastructure facilities and a common effluent-treatment plant.

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