Thrust areas for the annual plan include higher agro-production, increasing irrigation potential and more jobs, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said after his meeting with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh here.

Jaswant Singh complimenting Maharashtra for largest plan size among the states and efficient resource mobilisation in the State assured Joshi on all development issues to be dealt by the Centre.

The Planing Commission has allocated Maharashtra an additional Rs 40 cr for accelerated irrigation benefication programme (AIBP), and Rs 200 cr for rural infrastructure development fund during 1998-99 annual plan.

Calling for special assistance for development of Mumbai, Joshi said the Centre should allocate at least Rs 1000 cr each year to deal with problems of the mega-city.

The MaharashtraGovernment would give special attention to empowerment of women and socially disadvantaged groups during 1998-99, Joshi assured.