Mumbai, May 18 (IANS): Faced with a piquant situation of lakhs of migrant workers having left the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday appealed to the locals or 'sons of the soil' to come forward and help in the progress and development of Maharashtra.

"Around 50,000 manufacturing industries have already started in the state with 20,000 more expected to resume operations soon in the green zones. Wherever there is a shortage of labour, I call upon the locals to step ahead and help them to make the state self-sufficient," Thackeray said.

His statement assumes significance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week exhorted the country to embrace 'atmanirbhar' (self-sufficiency) in the post-Corona world.

Addressing the state late this evening, the CM said that efforts are on to give further relaxations in the green and orange zones, but there will be no relaxations in the red zones.

Nevertheless, the state is making preparations for foreign investments by reserving more than 40,000 acres of land for them, and there will be no conditions for those willing to set up 'pollution-free' industries here.

"Some may say they have no resources to invest in the land in the current situation. No problems, we are ready to give them land on rent with basic amenities to set up their industries," Thackeray assured.

He also urged all migrants still stranded in the state to remain wherever they are since the government has started trains and buses to drop them to their home states around the country.

"Kindly do not walk on the roads and highways... it can lead to fatal accidents. We are making all efforts to send you home safely. We shall be starting similar arrangements for the local migrants in the state stranded in places like Mumbai from Konkan and western Maharashtra," the CM said.

Thackeray also reiterated that despite the increasing Covid-19 cases, the state will succeed in overcoming coronavirus with the cooperation of the people.