Karnataka offers 1,000 acres to Tatas for Nano

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa has assured Tata Motors of all possible support in case the latter plans to set up the Nano plant in Karnataka.

He, however, added that a decision would be taken only after Tata Motors decides to move out of West Bengal.

The chief minister told reporters that Karnatala would be glad to have the Tatas in the state following a meeting with Tata Motors Managing Director G Ravikanth in Bangalore on Thursday.

After meeting Yeddyurappa, Tata Motors MD told reporters: "He (Yeddyurappa) said he will give all support, assistance and required incentives if we want it (in case of re-locating the plant).

"The project requires about 1,000 acres of land. It is an integrated project," Ravikanth said.

Asked if Karnataka government has offered 1,000 acres of land, he said, "Yes. If we have to have the project, it requires 1,000 acres."

To another query whether Tata Motors was looking at re-locating the plant, he said, "We are considering alternatives if required," indicating that a final decision to pull out from West Bengal in the wake of land allotment row was yet to be taken.

Tata Motors has a manufacturing facility at Dharwad in the north Karnataka region, where it produces buses and tractors.

Soon after Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata announced that he was not averse to shift the Nano car project from West Bengal, other states, including Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana, invited the company.

Meanwhile sources said that in case Tata Motors decides to shift out of West Bengal, land in Karnataka would be alloted in Belur, about 350 km from Bangalore.

Land has also been idenified at Hubli in northern Karnataka. Decision would depend on which place the Tatas find more suited for the purpose.

A resolution to invite Tata Motors to Karnataka was taken after a Cabinet meeting of the Karnataka government recently.