Mah govt, M

Mumbai, Mar 24 (UNI) Maharashtra Government and Mahindra group today announced their plans to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) in Pune district which is expected to generate investment of over Rs 9,000 crore and employment for 75,000 skilled workforce.

An MoU to this effect was signed by Principal Secretary (Industries) V K Jairath and Mr Arun Nanda, the Executive Director and President (infrastructure development sector) Mahindra group in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at Mantralaya, the State Secretariat here this afternoon.

Group Chairman Keshub Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra were also present.

The SEZ named Mahindra World City will be a fully integrated business city in the SEZ format located off the Mumbai-Pune highway near Karla. The area will spread over 3,000 acre. The project has received an in-principle approval from the Board of Approval, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India for a multi-product SEZ, on March 17 this year.

Talking to reporters later, Mr Deshmukh described the MoU with Mahindra group as a ''good beginning'' as the group stood for efficiency and quality. The State government has cleared 26 SEZs so far and 14 proposals are still pending.

Mr Deshmukh urged Mr Keshub Mahindra to consider investing in Marathwada and the latter said the Government should abolish octroi.

To which the Chief MInister said the issue was on the Government's agenda and added ''we are seriously working on it.'' More UNI MR GK SKB1836