The Tata Motors will vacate the Nano site at Singur in another eight months, according to one top state government official.

“Last month, we received a letter from the Tata Motors in which they stated that they would take another nine months to dismantle the structure at Singur and leave the site. Till that time they will keep on paying the lease rent for the land,” the official told The Indian Express.

In September, violent protests by Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee had forced the company to close down the Nano factory which was nearing its completion.

However, with the Tata Motors still requiring eight months to vacate the site, the state government has not been able to move ahead with the Chinese automobile manufacturer First Automobile Works (FAW) that had shown interest in setting up an automobile factory at the same site in Singur.

Representatives of FAW, who had visited the state in November looking for a site to set up their automobile plant in collaboration with automobile major Ural India Ltd, had zeroed on Singur for their proposed plant and even conveyed it to the state government.

The state government will now either go for a settlement with the Tatas so that they vacate the site early or they will wait for it.

FAW, which has presence in 19 countries, has said that it will require 600 acres of land for setting up their factory.

Sometime ago, India’s Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao had written a letter to Chief Secretary Amir Kiran Dev heaping praise on the Chinese automobile giant.