Hunt for Nano site on; Tata Motors surveys sites in AP

Here is a verbatim transcript of Vishwanath Pilla's comments on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.

West Bengal's loss could be Andhra Pradesh's gain. The AP government has joined the race to get the coveted Nano plant to their state.

 

A team from Tata Motors led by its MD, Ravi Kant met Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister, YS Rajasekar Reddy at his residence and held discussions over Nano project. The Andhra Pradesh government has shown three areas to the Tatas; one in Kakinada, Vizag Corridor and second in Nellure and third one in Ranga Reddy District.

 

Also read:    Destination next for Nano: Will it be Gujarat?

 

 

Apart from that the Andhra Pradesh government has also offered a package of Rs 300 crore for relocating the project from Singur to Andhra Pradesh. Also Andhra Pradesh has unveiled a new auto policy in which it is going to offer VAT exemption for 21 years on sales in Andhra Pradesh; apart from that free stamp-duty, power and water.

 

So on October 6 Tata Motors officials have visited one of the sites identified by the State government in Ranga Reddy district in Shahbad Mandal. But when Tata Motors officials went there to inspect the site, they were not received by the farmers there. The farmers protested and opposed the officials' entry into the village.

 

The land that State government has proposed is an endowment land in which the farmers are cultivating for years together. So in that way though the officials have heard the State government very patiently, they did not make any commitment regarding investment in Andhra Pradesh. Ravi Kant said that he is there to hear out on what the State government is going to offer and then after visiting other states, he will make his decision.