Tata Motors is likely to renew the lease agreement for the land at Singur as it awaits a final verdict from the Supreme Court on the Singur Act case. Confirming the development, a Tata Motors spokesperson said, “We will renew the Singur land lease and continue to pay the prevailing rate (rate decided as per the agreement).” Tata Motors has been paying a lease rental of R1 crore every year to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) for the land which is on lease for 90 years. The lease started in 2007 and has to be renewed annually. The renewal is due on March 15. The agreement provides for a grace period of 40 days. Tata Motors was given 997 acre of land at Singur by the erstwhile CPM government to set up the Nano car project in 2006. However, the company shifted base to Sanand in Gujarat in 2008 after prolonged agitation by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, demanding return of 400 acre of land. Later, the Mamata Banerjee-led government started preliminary process for land re-distribution, but it could not proceed as Tata Motors challenged the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act or Singur Act, 2011, in the Calcutta High Court. Tata Motors lost the case before the single Bench of the Calcutta High Court and appealed at the division Bench where the verdict was in its favour. The case is now with the Supreme Court. In a recent interview to news agency PTI, Ratan N Tata, chairman emeritus, Tata Group, hinted at investing in West Bengal in the future, despite the unsavoury Singur episode. “Need not be Tata Motors. We have time until the court decides this, the plant is still there. Whether it is Tata Motors or something else,” he had said. The Singur Act case was listed for hearing on the December 7, 2012, but was adjourned for a later date after Tata Motors asked for more time from the SC.