Amit Shah lays foundation stone of BSL-4 Bio-Containment facility of Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility, at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Several dignitaries including Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi were present on the occasion.

Amit Shah said that this will be India's second high-level lab after the Virology Institute in Pune. But this is the first lab being built by a state government, the credit for which goes to Gujarat. A huge complex with an area of 11,000 square meters at a cost of Rs 362 crore is going to be a strong fortress of biological security of the country. He said that we were lagging behind for many years due to the cutting-edge research being done in the world, but the BSL-4 bio-containment facility will provide new opportunities to the youth working in the biotechnology sector and India will be able to move ahead in this field. This facility will provide a platform for scientists to conduct research on highly contagious and deadly viruses in a safe environment.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility is being prepared by studying BSL labs around the world. There will also be a world-class system to study diseases that reach humans through animals. Shah said that according to a study, 60 to 70 percent of diseases reach humans through animals, so India has started a programme to ensure the safety of both humans and animals through the One Health Mission. He said that now our scientists will not have to depend on foreign countries to test samples of dangerous viruses. Ending dependence on foreign countries will speed up the investigation and we will become self-reliant. The Home Minister said that BSL-4 will provide all the facilities. We need research-based permanent security and this lab will meet all our needs.

Amit Shah said that we have set a target of investment of Rs 20,000 crore and 1 lakh jobs under the Biotech Policy. Special assistance for mega projects has also been announced.