Will Tata pay heed to Naveen?

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 4: The death of Bengal’s small car dream yesterday has prompted the Orissa government to extend its willingness to conceive the brainchild of Ratan Tata — Nano.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today formally invited the Tatas to set up its small car project at Gopalpur, around 180km from here.

“Newspaper reports indicate that there are certain problems being faced by Tata Motors for grounding their car project at Singur. If that be so, I wonder why are you not considering setting up the project at Gopalpur where you have in your possession 3,700 acres since 1998,” Naveen wrote to Ratan Tata, the Tata Sons chairman, today.

The Tata Group had proposed to set up a port-based steel plant at Gopalpur. The foundation stone of the proposed steel plant was laid in 1995 by then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao amid many fanfares. Subsequently, 3,700 acres was acquired for the steel plant project. However, Tata Group backed out from the project in the wake of agitation by local residents.

The land acquired for the steel plant project is still under the disposal of Tata Group. Tatas have established JN Tata Technical Education Centre there.

Stressing why Tatas should set the Nano project at Gopalpur, Naveen said: “The port town was located along the NH-5 and connected to the Howrah-Chennai railway line via Berhampur, Gopalpur’s nearest rail head.”

Orissa had become a favourite destination for investment in metal, IT and tourism sectors, said Naveen, adding that the state had been receiving the highest investment in the country since last three years.

He said that the state’s industrial policy offered attractive incentives to industries and Tatas can cash in on these privileges if they set up the Nano project here.

“I shall be thankful if a decision is taken to set up the project at Gopalpur at the earliest,” Naveen said.

Earlier, the leader of the Opposition at the Assembly and former chief minister, J.B. Patnaik, had given an open invitation to Tata Group to set up their small car project at Gopalpur.