Solution to octroi issue soon, says Deshmukh

Mumbai, Mar 24 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today promised to find a solution to the octroi issue and said it would be announced soon.

Addressing the annual day conference of the state chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he admitted that ''octroi is one area which is creating a lot of problems in industrial growth.

Soon we will be able to find a solution so that industrial growth does not suffer. We have realised that this is the era of competition in which we have to change many policies'', a CII release quoting him said.

Mr Deshmukh released two reports on the occasion; ''Livelihoods, Employment and Sustainable Development'' and ''Export Potential in Maharashtra.'' The first report, prepared by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) said ''the annual per capita growth for Maharashtra at 3.16 per cebt is considerably lower than all-India average of 4.38 per cent.'' The state's ranking in terms of trend growth in real income declined considerably between 1994-95 and 2003-04 as the state now stood at the 11th place amongst 15 major states of the country.

Nearly 77 per cent of rural labour force continued to be employed in the primary sector. It recommended setting up of a full-fledged labour market information cell, service training institutes and for restructuring vocational training Institues.

The second report said the overall export potential of Maharashtra can be unleashed only if the infrastructure bottlenecks like power shortages, port congestion, poor rail, port and road connectivity and lack of other facilities are addressed on a priority basis.

It recommended reforms in local levies and taxes on export firms, addressing the issues of stamp duty, introducing flexible labour laws and smooth customs and excise clearances for the exporters.

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