Dehradun, July 31
Even as Uttarakhand is being projected as the pharmaceutical manufacturing hub of the future, the state’s skeletal drug regulatory infrastructure seems woefully inadequate to respond to the opportunity awaiting at its door. With an insignificant presence in the districts, the state drugs controlling authority seems inadequate to face fresh challenges.There are few inspectors to undertake checks at companies and even fewer members to man the Rudrapur Drug testing Laboratory that became operational a few months ago.

With the number of pharmaceutical companies, in the process of setting up manufacturing units flocking to the state to avail the excise waiver, existing infrastructure seems grossly inadequate to meet regulatory requirements.

It is feared that the insignificant presence in other districts may render the regulatory authority toothless. Figures provided by the State Drugs Controlling Authority show that there are only eight drug inspectors (two senior inspectors and six inspectors) and one drugs controller in charge of the State Drug Controlling Authority in Dehradun.

In view of the expected rush of pharmaceutical companies, the apparatus appears grossly inadequate. The strength of the drug regulatory mechanism in the state becomes vital when one considers the state government’s efforts to invite more and more pharmaceutical companies to invest in Uttarakhand. “At the moment there is requirement for at least seven more staff members for which appointments have to be made through the State Commission.

“We have issued 250 licences to pharmaceutical companies and there are several more in line,” said DD Upreti, state drugs controller. Only the districts of Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Hardiwar seem to be on the radar of the government when it comes to manpower. Only five districts in the state have a drugs controller. In the remaining hill districts, there is none.

However, the State Drug Controller Authority maintains that the state drug control machinery is nevertheless discharging its duties despite the shortage of manpower.

The number of manufacturing licences issued to various MNCs is 250, the retail 1,400 and wholesale licences 1,300. Besides, six companies that have been issued restricted licences. Prior to the creation of the state, there were only eight pharmaceutical companies in the state. In 2003, their number of went up to 18. The state does not have an intelligence cell that could be used to get feedback about the activities of the companies.

Experts say intelligence cells are necessary for mainlining checks on pharmaceutical companies that do not follow best pharmacopoeia practices and to maintain a check on the quality of generic medicines. The State Drugs Controlling Authority maintains that it conducts raids once a month. Though the only Food and Drug testing laboratory began functioning a few months back, it too is plagued with a manpower crunch. In the absence of a laboratory in the state, samples were earlier sent to the central drug laboratory in Kolkata or the one in Lucknow. One had to wait for several months to get the results. Built at a cost of Rs 4 crore for which the state and central governments have pooled in resources, the laboratory is being manned by a government analyst (drugs) appointed on deputation. However, the laboratory functioning may be derailed if more technical staff is not appointed.

“The laboratory is being used for testing drug samples though the companies have their own in-house quality controllers.The samples can only pass the muster after these are approved by the drugs controllers (chemists). To double-check results, we are sending the samples to the drug laboratory in Kolkata,” said Upreti.

The state faces the biggest threat of sale of expired drugs that are resold in the market using new wrappers. At times the companies do not destroy the medicines, instead selling these to junk dealers. Recently, raids were conducted at a pharmaceutical company at Selaqui (pharma city) and large quantities of expired medicines seized.

To provide quality drugs to the people, the state also needs to go for quality bench marking of pharmaceutical products and generic medicines.

It should immediately take steps towards strengthening the drugs regulatory mechanism for ensuring that companies that flock to the state produce quality drugs. 

Sunder Lal Bahuguna, who was awarded Padma Vibhushan this year, is an environment activist who has devoted his life to the protection of forests, propagating conservation efforts and fighting against attempts to denude the Himalayas of its forest cover.

For years he has fought single-handedly against the construction of the Tehri hydro-electric project on the Bhagirathi.

The project has been completed, but once again there is a hue and cry over the drying up of riverbeds due to the diversion of water into the tunnels of hydroprojects. Bahuguna spoke to The Tribune staffer SMA Kazmi on the 
situation.

Q What is your opinion about the state of forests in the country?

A I would like to go back to pre-Independence era when Britishers to meet their needs of wood for various purposes indulged in wanton cutting of trees. And then again planted trees that could give them wood, like the pine in the Himalayas, without bothering about its ill-effect.

It was like “farming of trees” on the slopes of Himalayas. Massive forest fires, drying of water sources are to be blamed on these species of trees. Similarly, in the coastal belts, the British, the French and the Portugese instead of coconut encouraged other plants like cashew in the south.

These species can’t stop the devastating effects of the tsunami and high tidal waves like the coconut and other indigenous species.

Q What are the other reasons for the decline of forest cover?

A The developmental needs of man has eaten up forests. It was expansion of cities, building of dams and hydro-electric projects, roads, tourism and industy that has led to large-scale cutting of trees everywhere in the country.

Q Are you satisfied with the governmental efforts to maintain the forest cover?

A No government can do this task efficiently. It is only the people who can protect and maintain their forests. The government can provide ‘bijli’, ‘panni’ but does not have a great record in raising forests and preserving these.

In India, the best forests are those that sare inhabited by tribals and maintained them. They know how to live in harmony with nature without destroying it.

Q What about the demand for greater participation of local communities in the maintenance of forests?

A Absolutely. The forest should be the property of the people and the government should be a facilitator.

Q What are your suggestions?

A There should be an effective check on the cutting of trees. There should be alternatives to meet the fuel needs of the people living in the vicinity of forests and the need for wood-based products in towns and cities.

In the Himalayas, efforts should be to take water to the top of the hills, plant mixed fruit trees on slopes and produce electricity in the valleys. This alone will save the people of the Himalayas.

Dehradun, July 31
While plastic continues to be a major irritant higher up in the hills, “Operation Raincoat” in the Yamunotri region of Uttarakashi is a commendable effort towards finding a solution to the use of cheap single-use disposable raincoats by pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra.

Rains are frequent in the hill areas and both those on a pilgrimage and tourists buy these single-time use raincoats, which are often thrown away on return.

Swechha, an environmental friendly organisation, has tried to replace these plastic raincoats with rubberised raincoats.

It has taken upon itself to clean this pilgrim township of low-quality plastic raincoats. In May this year, it started “Operation Raincoat” which entails providing quality raincoats on minimum rent.

The one-time use raincoat costs around Rs 20 to Rs 25 whereas the new rubberised one provided by Swechha is of for a mere Rs 10 rent. The visitor returns the coat as his visit concludes in Uttarakashi.

“Yamunotri, one of the Char Dhams, is visited by as many as five lakh people annually and providing them rubberised raincoats will not only protect them from the rains, but also address the problem of low-quality plastic waste, a major source of pollution in the region,” says Sunny Verma, a core group member of Swechha.

The work experience of past four years has significantly helped Swechha in carrying out its campaign.

The organisation has established three counters for rent and sale (at subsidised rates) of rubberised raincoats to pilgrims visiting the Yamunotri shrine.

Armed with an energetic team of volunteers and Swechha staff, the campaign has already been lauded by different sections. “Operation Raincoat” entails employing locals for the campaign.

The Uttarkashi district authorities are providing all possible support to the campaign and have issued directives to the police and the zila panchayat to cooperate. 

Dehradun, July 31
The CBSE Sahodya Inter-School English Theatre Competition was held at Jaswant Modern School here yesterday. As many as six CBSE schools participated in the competition.

Shri Bharat Mandir, DAV Public School, Scholars Home, Shalini Memorial School, RAV and Jaswant Modern Sr Sec School staged plays with different themes to regale the audience.

Host school JMSS presented the famous play ‘Rider of the Sea’ while Scholars Home School performed ‘I am a Rebel’ where they talked about the mindset of the teenagers and discussed the harmful effect of drugs. The first position was bagged by Jaswant Modern School, second by DAV Public School and third by Scholars Home. The consolation prize went to RAV Public School. Secretary of Sahodaya Schools Meenakshi Gandotra expressed her gratitude to the schools for their participation. The chief guests on the occasion were the principals of all six schools.

Meanwhile, Nari Shilp School also organised inter-school creativity competition in which 70 students from 15 schools participated. Students from the junior and senior sections participated in ‘mehndi’, poster, flower decoration and ‘rangoli’ competitions.

“Every year, we organise Creativity Day for students to showcase their talent,” said Mona Bali, principal, Nari Shilp. The function was supported by Swaym, an NGO, and its secretary Nirmal Virmani was the chief guest.