The West Bengal government is in talks with the Tata group to explore fresh investment opportunities in the state, Industry Minister Tapas Roy said on Sunday, according to reports.
The discussions come years after Tata Motors moved its Nano project out of Singur following a prolonged agitation over land acquisition led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee.
"We are in touch with Tata; discussions are ongoing to bring them to the state," Roy said.
Tata Motors had pulled out of Singur in October 2008 and shifted its Nano car project to Sanand in Gujarat following the agitation over land acquisition.
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West Bengal Exploring Tata's Non-Auto Businesses
Roy said the Tata group has a presence across several sectors in West Bengal, including information technology services, metals, hospitality and retail.
"The Tata group has many businesses other than the automobile sector. It is being explored if they want to expand these or start new units," he added.
The minister's comments indicate that the state government is looking beyond the automobile sector as it seeks to attract fresh investments from the conglomerate.
Tata Motors Singur Award
Roy declined to comment when asked about the payment of the arbitral award, along with interest, to Tata Motors by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) over the company's withdrawal from the Singur project.
"The state needs to contemplate such issues," he said.
An arbitral tribunal had on October 30, 2023, awarded Tata Motors Rs 765.78 crore, along with interest at 11 per cent per annum, in connection with its withdrawal from the Singur project.
Roy said the previous TMC government had left the BJP government with the liability of paying the amount along with interest.
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When asked how the state government planned to make the payment, Roy said, "I will not comment on that, and it is not the time to say that either", he concluded.
The WBIDC had challenged the arbitral award before the Calcutta High Court in February this year, when the TMC was in power.
(With PTI inputs.)
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