Karnataka offers land to Tatas - and peace

Tata Motors took the first concrete step towards finalising an alternative site for the Nano car project when MD G. Ravi Kant met chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday.

"The CM said Karnataka was prepared to provide all the infrastructure support and incentives Tata Motors wants if the company decides to relocate its Nano plant to the Dharwad district of North Karnataka," a top source in the state secretariat revealed.

"We've not yet taken a decision. We will consult our chairman Ratan Tata," Ravi Kant said.

Following the Mamata Banerjee-led agitators at Singur, a number of state chief ministers had invited Tata Motors to relocate to their states. This is however, the first time a Tata representative has held a formal meeting with a chief minister.

The Tatas already have two projects in the state, one a joint venture with Hitachi for trucks, and the other with Marco Polo for buses. Sources said that if Tata Motors does relocate to Karnataka, it would be at a spot adjoining the area it currently occupies.