The Government-in-waiting in Telangana has said it would protect the Brand Hyderabad and assured the industry that the war of words over the issue of sharing employees would not impact the investment climate in the State capital.
K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), the son of Telangana Rashtra Samithi President and Chief Minister-designate of the newly-formed State, has said that the issues such as employee sharing and water bound to happen after the bifurcation.
“There are knotty riparian issues between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Similarly, we will have to fight it out on some issues. But that is not going to adversely impact the brand image of Hyderabad,” he said.
Addressing the first ever tête-à-tête with the industry here on Tuesday, he alleged that there were efforts by some to create a confusion and trigger apprehensions. “You need not worry. We will not tolerate any attempts to disturb peace in the Capital. Hyderabad belongs to all. We acknowledge the fact that it is a growth engine for Telangana economy,” he said.
Power deficit
He said the new State would be a power deficit State. Though it would get a share of 54 per cent in the power generated in the combined State as per the bifurcation Act, it would be left with a huge deficit, considering the huge demand. On the contrary, the residuary Andhra Pradesh would be a power surplus State.
“I admit that we will be a power deficit State. But we have begun working on addressing the issue. We have asked for the unallocated 1,000 MW of power generated at NTPC. If need be, we will buy it from the fellow Telugu State,” he said.
Grievances
Industrialists representing several sectors have poured out their woes on issues like taxation, power shortage, corruption and the issues that will crop when the State was bifurcated.
Rama Rao assured them that he would set up a meeting with the Chief Minister after he takes charge to discuss the issue.The new Chief Minister would have presence on Facebook and Twitter to let industrialists communicate with him.