Always wanted it here: Deshmukh
MUMBAI: A day after Ratan Tata threatened to move his Nano project from Singur, West Bengal if the situation there worsened, three governments stepped forward and offered him all the facilities he needed to set up a factory in their states.
First off the block was Maharashtra — chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said he would provide “full cooperation” to Ratan Tata if he were to shift the project. “The state government is ready to roll out a red carpet welcome,” Deshmukh told DNA. “It has always been my desire that Tatas should have set up the Nano project in Maharashtra.
However, they decided to go to another state. Now, since that has run into trouble, I am more than willing to help them acquire land here. Unlike in West Bengal, the Congress-NCP coalition in Maharashtra has an industry-friendly image,” he said, adding that he would meet Ratan Tata personally to make this offer.
“Whether it is Nashik-Pune-Aurangabad or Latur-Nagpur-Amravati belt, we will make available a vast stretch of land as well as ensure water supply,” Deshmukh said.
Ratan Tata could also consider moving to Punjab or Orissa. The industry minister of Punjab, Manoranjan Kalia, was reported as saying he would soon write to Ratan Tata to formally invite the group.
Orissa too hinted it was open to the project, even though an existing steel project of the Tata group was mired in violence..
The company’s officials meanwhile were silent after Friday’s warning note issued by the chairman. They said it was being addressed at the highest levels.
