New Delhi, July 7
Reliance have come to Punjab, can Tatas be far behind. Here they are with plans to set up manufacturing hub for cars with an investment of over Rs 4000 crore.

The head of the Tata group, Ratan Tata, today met the Union Minister of State for Industry, Mr Ashwani Kumar, to discuss possible investments in the land of green revolution.

The two leaders were huddled at a meeting for over 45 minutes to come to an initial understanding on investments in the state.

Later talking to The Tribune, the minister said Tata was “quite positive” about investing in Punjab and had promised to send top officials to the state at the earliest to look for areas to set up manufacturing plants for cars.

Indications are that the noted car manufacturing company, which had promised to produce the dream car of Rs 1 lakh could set up one unit in Punjab to meet the projected demand for this car. The Tatas have already promised to set up one unit for the manufacture of this car in West Bengal.

The Punjab government recently sent a proposal to the Centre for setting up manufacturing region, with all the incentives of SEZs running into several kilometres, in Ropar and Ludhiana.

Although several industrialists were keen that such a region was available near Chandigarh, the state government could not find enough land to meet the criteria of setting up manufacturing region.

Mr Ashwani Kumar was quite pleased with the meeting with Ratan Tata and was upbeat that the company would set up its unit in Punjab. On his part, Ratan Tata also appeared optimistic as he emerged from the meeting.

Ratan Tata said he would look at investment options with an open mind.

The minister said Ratan Tata, during the course of discussion, did not even mention of the issue of tax incentives or other concessions for setting up units in Punjab.

But, Mr Ashwani Kumar said the government would extend all possible incentives as envisaged in the manufacturing region policy framework.

Industry Minister and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab expressed the view that the very fact that Tatas were looking up to Punjab as an investment destination would send a positive signal to others to take notice of the state.