Tata MD tours Karnataka, Andhra for Nano site

WAITING TO BE IN DRIVER'S SEAT: Gujarat, Karnataka have promised the best infrastructural facilities for the Nano site.

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New Delhi: Two days after Tata Motors decided to drive out of Singur, the company has begun searching for an alternative site for the Nano project.

Tata Motors Managing Director Ravi Kant toured the Dharwad district of Karnataka on Sunday. He also met Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa in this regard.

Yedyurappa reportedly said that he is ready to provide Tata Motors with the necessary infrastructure, land, water supply and electricity to set up the plant.

The proposed sites for the plant are at Gamanagatti, Durgadkheri, Garag and Belur in Dharwad district. Kant is also expected to visit the proposed sites later on Sunday.

Karnataka state Industrial Minister Murgesh Nirani said, “The Tatas are happy after the meeting and have also visited the proposed sites near Dharwad.”

Tata Motors had officially announced their exit from Singur on Friday following continued protests there.

From Karnataka, Kant will leave for Hyderabad where he is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Rajashekhara Reddy in connection with the Nano project.

The Andhra government is reportedly offering around 950 acres of land free of cost for the project. This includes 650 acres for the mother plant and 350 acres for an ancillary unit.

The Andhra government is also offering a complete exemption from Value Added Tax on sales within the state for 21 years.

Tata Motors is also considering an offer from Chief Minister Narendra Modi to relocate the Nano project to Gujarat. A meeting between Modi and Kant is reportedly scheduled for later this week.

The proposed site could come up at Sanand near Ahmedabad, Savli in the Panchmahals district, Mundra in Kutch, Prantij in Himmatnagar district, Padra in Vadodara or at Maroli in Navsari.

Both Gujarat as well as Karnataka governments are wooing Tata Motors with the promise of better industrial and infrastructural facilities as compared to West Bengal.

How Nano was driven out of Bengal

After a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen, Tata Group chief Ratan Tata announced on Friday that he would move the Nano car factory out of West Bengal.

He said the decision to shift the project was taken following farmers' protests and was also in consideration of the well-being and safety of its employees and vendors working at the unit.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said, "I still don't understand why the agreement between Tatas Motors and the state government is being kept in the dark? I don't understand why it cannot be shared with the commoners? I am quite sure that there must be something wrong in the agreement and that's why the government is trying to hide it.”