Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand woo Tatas for Nano project

Three North Indian states — Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — today offered all possible help to Tata Motors which yesterday suspended work at Singur facility and said it was considering moving the low-cost Nano project out of Singur in West Bengal.       

"If Tatas comes to Haryana, the government and the people of the state will welcome them," said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.      

"We will give all help to Tata as lakhs of people will get employment. Besides, Nano will be the cheapest car that would save fuel," he said in the state assembly while replying to a calling attention notice of ruling Congress member Karan Singh  Dalal.      

Hooda said that Haryana is a hub for the automobile industry with half of the country's cars being made in the state.

Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki is located in Gurgaon district of the state.

A new labour policy, high wages and conducive atmosphere have resulted in investments of Rs 40,000 crore in the past three years, he said.      

Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh also pitched in with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal saying in Shimla that the state will roll out a red carpet for the automobile giant.      

Himachal Pradesh has a special category status with providing various concessions for industries, he told reporters in Vidhan Sabha.

Besides, Dhumal said, the state has surplus power and skilled manpower.      

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri also said Tatas are already manufacturing Ace trucks at Pantnagar facility.

He said talks are on between officials of the state government and the company to explore the possibility of manufacturing Nano cars in Uttarakhand.