Hyderabad integral to all regions

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Hyderabad has been the bone of contention ever since the demand for and against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has reached a feverish pitch in recent years.

While the separatists maintained that Hyderabad was an integral part of Telangana, those from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions too staked their claim over the more than 400-year-old city saying it developed into a metropolis largely through their contribution.

“Migrants from the three regions, especially from coastal Andhra, have contributed substantially to the economic growth of the city (Hyderabad) and continue to hold a stake in important businesses,” the Justice Srikrishna Committee notes in its report on the statehood issue.

“The inmigration from within and outside the state indicates that the present character of Hyderabad is quite different from that inherited from the Nizam period or what it was even three decades ago. The recent profile of migrants has changed once again, with many now being from other parts of the country,” the report points out.

The Committee also observed that Hyderabad has now grown into the fifth largest centre after Bangalore, Mumbai, the National Capital Region and Chennai, and much ahead of locations such as Pune and Kolkata.

“Hyderabad has been able to attract investors from across the country and indeed across the globe. In fact, a sixth of Telangana’s GDP comes from Hyderabad. The pattern of Hyderabad’s migration and investment reflects a growing increase in its cosmopolitan identity and social diversity.

It is imperative to ensure that there is no de-stabilization of the economy of Hyderabad, flight of capital or erosion of business confidence and all stakeholders continue to have safe access to the city,” the Committee suggests.

“The current economic inter-linkages of Hyderabad with all regions need to be fostered and further developed especially in the context of Hyderabad now having become a hub of the “new economy”, with an international brand image and interface. It would be in the interest of all regions (of Andhra Pradesh) if the economy of Hyderabad, which is a growth engine for the state and the national economy, continues to grow rapidly as only economic growth can create an expansion of employment opportunities. To grow, it cannot afford a continued climate of uncertainty,” the Committee cautions in its report.

Hyderabad is home to as many as 28 establishments in defence or other strategically-important sectors with “national security significance.” In addition, there are about 40 institutions owned by Government of

India with national research, development and educational interest and nine educational institutions, mostly universities, supported by the state government, the reports points out.

Noting that the economic interdependencies between the key cities of AP like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kurnool and Tirupati and Hyderabad, the Committee says: “Hyderabad and each urban centre in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema appear to have their own economic base hinterland and growth drivers. Each of these urban centres is well integrated with the national and even global economy.”

“Hyderabad’s future is now vitally dependent on the ability of decision-makers to work out arrangements for effective and transparent governance for its all round growth and development,” the Committee sums up.