`Relocate Nano plant to Maharashtra`

Zeenews Bureau Mumbai, Aug 23:

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Saturday invited Tatas to set up their plant for manufacturing Rs 1 lakh car Nano in Maharashtra. "The Tatas will be accorded red carpet welcome to set up the project in Maharashtra and will be given land and necessary facilities," Deshmukh said in a statement here today. The invitation came a day after Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata threatened to pull out of West Bengal if the violence and agitations against the project continued in Singur. Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik also reportedly said that he was ready to consider if Tata Motors approaches his government to relocate the plant in the state. A frustrated Ratan Tata yesterday said that they will have no other option but to relocate the Nano plant if the violence and agitations continue in Singur. Tata put the ball into the WB government’s court by making it absolutely clear that the company is not afraid of moving out of Singur even if it meant huge loses. “It’s impossible to work in such a situation; we don’t want to work in an area where we are unwanted,” said the man who had shocked the world with his Rs 1 lakh beauty ‘Nano’. A visibly disturbed Tata told reporters on the sidelines of Tata Tea's AGM that Rs 1500 crore of investments had already been made in the project. "It is not a hypocritical investment. Whatever be the cost, we will move out if the situation so demands. If anyone thinks we will not exit Singur because huge investments, they are wrong. We cannot compromise the safety of our men,” he asserted. Tata however, didn’t elaborate on whether the company would be able to meet the October deadline; he only said, "It is our desire to do so." But considering the time that it will take to relocate, it seems highly unlikely that the Nano can roll out at the onset of festival season.

Mamata Banerjee is short-sighted and stubborn. When she was with NDA, she threw tantrums for getting the Railway Ministry and when she finally got it, she did not prove to be great shakes. With people like her as the Marxists main opposition, do they need allies? - K.Venugopal - Mumbai