New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Amid bedlam over the Nandigram violence, the Lok Sabha today passed without discussion a Bill providing for the setting up of additional National Insititutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in the country to meet the shortage of skilled manpower in the pharmaceutical industry.

One such institute already exists in Mohali, Punjab, set up under the 1998 Act.

The Bill, moved by Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, replaces the ordinance promulgated on January 29.

The ordinace was promulgated to undertake preparatory work for starting courses in the proposed institutes from the July 2007 academic session.

The Special Committeee, constituted by the Human Resource Development Ministry, had recommended in its 1987 Report the setting up of more NIPER-like institutes in one or two decades in various regions of the country.

The working Group on Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, set up by the Planning Commission, had recommended establishmentment of at least five NIPERs in the 11th Plan.

The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals had also recommended setting up of such institutes.

UNI