CHENNAI: The flashflood devastation in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh has not had too much of an impact on the hill states' economic clusters. Attracted by a slew of tax benefits, a whole range of companies now have factories in places like Rudrapur-Pantnagar and Haridwar. 

The Rudrapur-Pantnagar belt is an automobile hub housing Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors factories. It also has IT hardware, durables and FMCG plants of companies like Voltas, Parle and HP. 

The Haridwar area also has a range of automobile plants with the Mahindra & Mahindra's three-wheeler unit and the Hero Honda factory being the largest of the lot. When contacted, most of the companies maintained that there was no immediate loss of life or property. "Everything is normal at our plant in Haridwar and all possible measures will be undertaken to protect the plant and machinery as always," said an M&M spokesman.

"The floods have only impacted certain parts of HP and Uttarakhand. Our plant at Pantnagar is far away from these affected parts so it is functioning normally," said the spokesman for Ashok Leyland. 

Part of the reason why the plants may have been spared is the location. "Our plant is not in the low lying area so we have not been impacted," said a spokesperson for Hero Honda. 

HCL Infosystems too is saved from any trouble. "Our manufacturing unit at Rudrapur , Uttarakhand has not been impacted due to the recent calamity in the state. All our employees and their families are safe," said the EVP — marketing, strategy, corporate development at the company, Rothin Bhattacharyya. 

Meanwhile, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra has announced a donation of Rs 1 crore to the CM's Relief Fund, Uttarakhand. "We are shocked and grieved to learn of the unprecedented calamity and havoc created in Uttarakhand in the wake of the recent flash floods," Mahindra said. "This unprecedented human tragedy in the Devbhoomi calls for a quick response in terms of relief for the stranded pilgrims and the unfortunate residents of the affected areas. This is a token donation from our company in response to the appeal by the state government." (With inputs from Sushma U N)

Source:  The Times of India, DT. June 22, 2013.