AP woos Tata motors with another site

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) A day after villagers of Sitapuram striking a Singur note, the Andhra Pradesh Government today continued its efforts to vigorously woo the auto major Tata Motors showing another site close to the state capital for setting up its small car Nano project with the company having decided to move out of Singur in West Bengal.

A team of Tata Motors officials led by M B Kulkarni visited a site measuring over 1,000 acres in Vargal near Shameerpet in neighbouring Medak District to examine the feasibility of locating its Nano project there.

A team of Andhra Pradesh Governments officials, who accompanied the Tata Motors team, told UNI that ''basically they are looking at a site close to Hyderabad. They have promised to evaluate our offer and come back to us later''.

The Tata Motors team led by its Managing Director G Ravikant had already visisted two sites, measuring over 1,000 acres near the state capital yesterday, held preliminary level discussions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and later with State Major Industries Minister J Geeta Reddy and senior state Government officials.

After their bitter experience in Singur, the company officials had to face a similar experience from the Sitapuram people, who shouted slogans ''Tatas go back''.

The state had also suggested a site in the port town of Vishakapatanam, and also Hindupur in Anantpur district, which is close to Bangalore and Naidupeta, close to Chennai for the small car plant, official sources said.

Dr Reddy during his meeting with the Tata Motors team had promised to provide best offer when compared to other states.

Ahead of the visit, the state government had announced a series a incentives for ultramega projects, including cent per cent reimbursement of value added tax(VAT) for 21 years, subsidised power with two feeder lines and exemption from electricity tax for 10 years.

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