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YDERABAD: The Telangana high court questioned the police and the industries department about the measures they have taken to ensure the safety of industries set up in the state.Justice Vinod Kumar was hearing a petition filed by Gayathri Renewable Fuels and Allied Industries, an ethanol plant in Peddadhanwada village, Gadwal district, seeking police protection to enable them to begin operations.The firm's counsel argued that a mob had caused disruption and attacked staff on June 4, and that the company could neither begin operations nor safeguard the plant unless the police provided protection or set up a picket.During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice Kumar said, "There are attacks on industries and places where industries are being set up all over the state, but nothing much seems to be happening to ensure their safety." The judge quipped, "You go around countries inviting investments and industries, but do nothing to ensure the safety of industries set up here."Although the govt counsel informed the court that a case had already been registered, the attackers had been arrested and an investigation was underway, the judge advised the firm to approach the industries department instead of the police.

"Implead the industries department in the case so that we can ask them if they want industries to come up in the state. The concerned secretary and chief secretary must ensure protection for industries," he noted. "If this is the situation, how can industries be set up? How will unemployment come down? How will ancillary industries around them develop? Is this how the state behaves to encourage industries to come?" he questioned.The judge also observed that IT is not the only major industry in Hyderabad and that other industries should also be encouraged to set up there.Posting the matter to Wednesday, the judge asked the counsel for the industries department to be present at the next hearing.