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Japanese Govt to invest in DMIC Project: CM

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday confirmed major investment by the Japanese government in Mumbai Metro and the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in Aurangabad. Chavan said the Japanese government is also keen to spend on development work to boost tourism at the world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&quot;The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would grant a loan of INR 13,000 crore to the Maharashtra government for the Mumbai Metro. The Japanese government is also keen to invest in upcoming DMIC in Aurangabad,&quot; Chavan said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The state cabinet last year approved the construction of the 33.5 Km long first underground Metro line in Mumbai between Colaba and Santa Cruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) via Bandra. The Line-III of Mumbai Metro will need an estimated investment of INR 23,136 crore. The Centre would invest approximately INR 5,000 crore as equity and subordinate debt and Maharashtra would put equal investment. The rest INR 13,000 crore would come from JICA as soft loan, the cabinet had said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Earlier, he introduced a cluster of Japanese industries in Supa taluka of Ahmednagar district. He was speaking to media persons during his visit to the city for a workshop about Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&quot;Efforts are being taken to complete maximum number of development work before the elections. Basic amenities like water, electricity and road works which are necessary for the overall development of Aurangabad and the region are also being considered,&quot; Chavan said, adding that efforts would also be made to retain sufficient amount of water in Jayakwadi for development purposes.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">He said the foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed law university would be held soon.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Talking about the MGNREGA works in the state, Chavan said the wage structure, minimum working period of 100 days, adequate work has been implemented over the years and bank accounts have been opened to speed up the entire process.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&quot;Along with providing maximum monetary benefit for the needy, it is also seen that more number of people benefit from the scheme. It is also planned to initiate permanent employment generation through the scheme,&quot; Chavan said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The chief minister further said there are challenges ahead of the government about delays in administration process. &quot;Late opening of accounts, electronic transfer of funds, finding computer literate employees for the work and other technical difficulties need to be dealt with,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Chavan said that around 5.5 lakh works have been initiated in the state under the scheme, of which 40% have been completed and the remaining are in progress. &quot;Toll free helplines will be started to understand the grievances of the people, however, the ratio of skilled and non-skilled workers needs to be balanced,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">He said policy is being strengthened through introduction of electronic methods of payment in 35 locations of the state. &quot;It has ensured that people do not have to migrate from their native place in search of jobs,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Chavan urged the farmers to make maximum use of advanced technology for agriculture activities. He assured that the government would do its best to remove the blot of backwardness in the region.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>