The Hindu Business Line : Tata Motors’ team visits sites in AP, Karnataka

Search for Singur alternative: The Tata Motors Managing Director, Mr Ravi Kant (centre) with the Karnataka officials during his visit to the land identified for acquisition near Dharwad for the Nano car project on Sunday.

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Hyderabad, Bangalore, Oct. 5 The officials of Tata Motors led by its Managing Director, Mr Ravi Kant, held discussions with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in Hyderabad and the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B. S. Yeddyurappa, in Bangalore on Sunday, on their respective offers for land and facilities to relocate the Nano project.

“We came to see what the State Government was willing to offer,” Mr Ravi Kant told mediapersons after the meeting in Hyderabad. The Tatas had decided to pull out the project from Singur citing hostile environment there.

The company officials, accompanied by the respective State Government officials, visited Sitarampuram in Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh to inspect a 1,100- acre land and Dharwad in Karnataka to inspect the 1,000-acre site offered for the Nano project.

Ms J. Geetha Reddy, Minister for Major Industries, Sugar, Commerce and Export Promotion, later said that the Chief Minister assured the delegation that the Government was willing to discuss if further clarifications were required after identifying the land for the project.

“We will await their decision for now as they are also visiting other States for putting up the plant. We have also to see the incentives other States are willing to offer and have assured the team that we are willing to better the offers by others,” she added.

Karnataka report

Meanwhile in Karnataka, top Government officials are putting together a report on the Tata Motors team’s visit to Dharwad . The report - to be prepared by the Principal Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad and the Special Land Acquisition Deputy Commissioner - would be presented to the Chief Minister, according to Mr Murugesh Nirani, the State Industries Minister. The Tatas already have a manufacturing facility in Dharwad.

Mr Nirani told Business Line said that a six-member Tata Motors team led by Mr Ravi Kant, visited the Belur Industrial Area in Dharwad. The team also met the Chief Minister and the Industries Minister to discuss the offer details.

Mr Nirani said the Chief Minister had assured the Tata officials of all facilities such as land, water and power. They were also briefed about the advantages that Dharwad had to offer, such as skilled and employable youth available in the area thanks to presence of two/three universities, a number of ITIs, proximity to the port cities of Goa and Karwar and a safe and stable political environment.

“They are likely to take a decision in a week,” he said.