The issue was settled at a meeting at Mantralaya between the representatives of the employees unions and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal. During the meeting it was decided that B class (non-gazetted), all K grade and D grade employees will be paid 30 days' salary as bonus. The largesse will cost the State exchequer an additional burden of Rs 390 crore. The CM also announced that the December salary will include the arrears in cash of five per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) from January to July while the DA for July to November will be adjusted in the PPF of all employees.

Foreign investment welcome: CM
CHIEF Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today welcomed foreign investment in Maharashtra for its all round industrial development.

During a meeting with delegations of various countries ,the CM said thediplomatic relations between countries would also improve with investment opportunities. Deshmukh also assured full co-operation to the investors while dealing with concerned authorities in the State.