AP CM holds talks with Tata officials

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today held talks with a five-member team of officials of the Tata Motors led by its Managing Director Ravi Kant, with the latter having decided to move out of Singur in West Bengal.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Ravi Kant said ''we have come here to examine what has been offered''.

Earlier, when the Tata Motors' officials visited a site in Shabad close to the Rajiv Gandhi International airport, they encountered stiff opposition from local people, shouting slogans ''Tatas go back''.

Briefing newspersons on the ''preliminary level talks'' at the Chief Minister's camp office, Major Industries Minister J Geeta Reddy said ''We are ready to offer 1,000 acres of land close to Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam''.

Expressing confidence that the Tatas would locate its Nano small car unit in Andhra Pradesh, Ms Reddy said ''they are examining offers from different states. Let us hope they will come back to us, as the Rajasekhara Reddy Government is very proactive in attracting investments in the state''.

Ahead of the meeting, the State Government yesterday announced 100 per cent reimbursement of value added tax(VAT) for 21 years or up to 115 per cent of eligible investment made in seven years subject to minimum investment of Rs 4,000 crore.

The Government would provide all facilities to the unit, including land at concessional rates, 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty, power supply with dual feeder line, she added.

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