Bengal govt appeals to Tata not to pull out

Kolkata, Sep 25 (UNI) Amid reports of Tata Motors moving to shift the Nano project from West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said chances of the world's cheapest car rolling out from Singur were almost nil and appealed the Tatas not to pull out.

In a last ditch effort, the state Cabinet called upon the opposition to help implement the compensation and rehabilitation package for the Singur landlosers and allow the project to take place.

According to informed sources, Tata Motors was 'obliged to actively consider' the plan to shift the project from West Bengal where the 'situation continues to be uncertain'.

Stating this in a recent letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata has said the company is examining various options 'in great detail'.

The letter was written on September 16 after several states, including Maharashtra, invited Tata Motors with its Nano project following the susupension of work at Singur.

Though admitting that the proposition to shift the project has become 'complicated' because of the 'enormous sunk cost that it would entail', the letter also emphasised on operating efficiently when there is no congenial atmosphere.

Meanwhile, appearing to be resigned to fate, the Chief Minister reportedly told his colleagues at a cabinet meeting that he did not see any hope for Tata Motors staying back in West Bengal with the small car project as the Trinamool Congress-led opposition continued to refuse to budge from its 'land for land' demand.

''The Chief Minister said, at the meeting, the possibility is absolutely nil. The Government has put in lot of efforts to retain the project and it has showed much flexibility. But he does not see any more hope,'' Land Reforms Minister Abdur Rezzak Molla told reporters.

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