Hyderabad, December 31: Efforts have begun to open a dialogue between captains of the industry in Hyderabad and the Telangana protagonists in the wake of the growing disquiet over continuous disruption to business operations because of the volatile situation in the State capital for a month now.
The message the industry is looking forward to from those leading the T State agitation is that none would be allowed to obstruct the smooth functioning of any unit.
The need for this has arisen as firms continue to suffer because of bandhs or protests, notwithstanding repeated assurances to the contrary by leaders of the TRS and other parties.
With the government more or less remaining helpless, some well-meaning intellectuals and others are exploring the option of bringing representatives of the Joint Action Committee and the industry together to enable the latter explain their position and seek a categorical assurance to keep the image of Brand Hyderabad intact, whether the State is united or divided.
A few incidents in the recent weeks have only emphasized the need for such an initiative.
A BPO firm has shifted its entire operations to a star hotel so that it can keep its commitment to an overseas client. In yet another instance, a company proprietor was slapped after a T supporter identified him as belonging to Coastal Andhra. A pharma company, which considered Hyderabad initially, is now looking to Gujarat because the raw material is available there and the overall climate is conducive as well.
According to industry sources, the Malaysian government has also deferred signing of an MoU with a big pharma company. This was to have taken place at the upcoming CII Summit but there is now uncertainty about the event itself. Those working in IT firms are also not comfortable.
‘‘Industries in Hyderabad would continue here even if the State is separated because of various plus points such as climate, good infrastructure, good educational institutions and so on. But, economic activity cannot continue if there is unrest,’’ pointed out CII AP chapter Chairman Y Harish Chandra Prasad.
According to him, Hyderabad’s economy is largely dependent on the services sector which again mainly relies on manpower.
This makes transportation and hassle-free imperative.
–Agencies