Question

List four factors of development and briefly explain how they have favoured the growth of the Mumbai-Pune Industrial region.

State any two factors that have contributed to the development of Mumbai-Pune industrial region.

Answer 1

The Mumbai-Pune industrial region developed as a result of the cotton-growing areas and the development of cotton textile industries.

There are several factors responsible for the growth of the Mumbai-Pune industrial region. Four of these factors are as follows:

1. Availability of resources and development of industries: The rich black soil of the Narmada and Tapi Basin favoured the cultivation of cotton. This encouraged the growth of cotton textile industries in and around the region and thus, Mumbai and its hinterland became the ‘Cottonopolis of India’. Besides, the cotton textile industry, the chemical industry also emerged. Other industries that came up were engineering goods, drugs, fertilizers, synthetic and plastic goods, ship building and food processing. Banking, insurance and stock market sectors flourished.
2. Availability of energy sources: As coal was not readily available, the region developed its hydel power resources in the Western Ghats.
3. Availability of labour: Cheap skilled, semi-skilled and manual labour were easily available from Mumbai and its hinterland, and its neighbouring states of Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, etc.
4. Transport network: The opening of the first railway track between Mumbai and Thane in 1853, the opening of the Bhor and Thal Ghats, respectively, to Pune and Nashik provided the impetus for the growth of the region. Port facilities also developed.