Karnataka team to meet Tata officials next week

A team of officials from Karnataka were expected to call on top management of Tata Motors at Pune next week to impress upon the company to consider its offer for shifting the Nano car project to the state.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa swung into action soon after negotiations between Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata and his West Bengal counterpart Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee failed to resolve the impasse over the Singur project and the industry major deciding to bid good bye to Singur.

Yeddyurappa who had a telephonic conversation with Ratan Tata, invited him to visit Bangalore shortly for further talks on the offers made by him, which included 1,000 acres of land at Dharwad, close to the existing Tata Motors plant.

Yeddyurappa also asked his Principal Secretary V P Baligar and Industries Secretary Umesh to hold discussions with Tata Motors Managing Director G Ravikanth.

Meanwhile sources in the Chief Minister's Secretariat said two days ago a team of officials from Tata Motors were in the city for a discussion with state officials.

During the meeting it was briefed to them about the investment climate that existed in the state, besides the salubrious environs of Dharwad.

Sources said the officials team from the state also impressed on their Tata Motors representatives that in the event of the Nano project being established at Dharwad, it has proximity to Pune, where the firm has major manufacturing facility.