Question

Give a detailed account of the Mumbai-Pune industrial region.

Answer 1

• The Mumbai–Pune industrial region extends from Thane to Pune and covers adjoining districts like Nashik, Solapur, Kolaba, Ahmednagar, Satara, Sangli, and Jalgaon.
• It originated during British rule in 1774 when the Mumbai island was acquired for port construction.
• Growth was led by the cotton textile industry using cotton from the black soil region and hydel power from the Western Ghats. Availability of cheap labour, export-import facilities, and connectivity made Mumbai the ‘Cottonopolis of India’.
• Industries include textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, engineering, electronics, software, and food processing. Major industrial centres are Mumbai, Kurla, Thane, Ghatkopar, Andheri, Bhandup, Kalyan, Pimpri, Pune, Nashik, Manmad, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Satara, and Sangli.
• The 1947 Partition affected the region as 81% of the irrigated cotton area went to Pakistan.
• After Partition, cotton supply declined and space shortage in Mumbai led to dispersal of industries.