The Hindu Business Line : Corporates willing to rebuild Mumbai

WHEN a cyclone hit Orissa in 1999, they were there. The subsequent disasters - Gujarat earthquake of 2001 or the killer tsunami of 2004 - too found them there.

But when it has come to activity closer home, there seems to be an element of uncertainty on how to go about it.

The Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh's meeting today with captains of industry had a one-line agenda - it is time to pay back Mumbai for the benefits that corporates have enjoyed all these years.

The Maharashtra Government built houses in Orissa worth Rs 35 crore, while the rehabilitation efforts in Gujarat involved an amount of Rs 85 crore; a similar effort is expected in Pondicherry for the tsunami-affected. Some of these efforts had participation from corporates, many of whom, have their base in Mumbai.

In today's meeting, Mr Deshmukh, who held the meeting with some of the leading businessmen in the country, wanted to know one thing: What each of them would do as part of the State rehabilitation plan.

With no action plan in place from the side of the State Government, it was left to the corporates to make suggestions. That they did, one by one ... Reliance Industries (Mr Nikhil Meswani), Essar group (Mr Shashi Ruia), the Tatas (Mr Krishna Kumar), the Hindujas (Mr Ashok Hinduja), Videocon (Mr Venugopal Dhoot), Wartsila India (Mr Banmali Agrawla), and representatives from L&T.

The industry honchos said that they would build houses, roads, etc., - either individually or collectively - provided Government clearances were given on a priority basis.

As many are keen to build houses, the necessity to demarcate geographic areas for this activity was expressed. Pretty soon it became clear that a smaller, core group with representation from industry and Government needed to be set up to sort out the nitty-gritty.

The meeting that started off with the idea of getting corporate houses to commit to specific activities in various facets of rehabilitation concluded with a demand from business houses for a blueprint of the rehabilitation plan.

The industry was told that the State Industries Department would co-ordinate future activities with them.

The Chief Minister said that he would soon come out with a rehabilitation plan, only to be told by the captains of industry not to take too long.

Thus, it was decided that the Maharashtra Government would come with a time-bound rehabilitation plan, wherein the industry would participate through specific projects.

What they said

Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra: "It is time to give back to Mumbai. Though the Government of India is helping, it is not enough. Tell me what you all can do."

Mr Shashi Ruia, Chairman, Essar group: "We need to draw on the rehabilitation work that has been done in Gujarat collectively by Government, corporates, and other entities. There are lessons to be learnt there."

Mr Krishna Kumar, Director, Tata Sons: "Set up a multi-disciplinary core group to make the rehabilitation plan."

Mr Nikhil Meswani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries: "We are keen to participate. Let the plan be made available."

Mr Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group India: "The State Government will soon prepare a rehabilitation plan and the industry will respond to it."

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