Ananthkumar told reporters here today that Ratan Tata had written a letter seeking a meeting with him, but had not sent any official communication about the reported withdrawal. He reiterated that the union government had `a positive attitude' regarding the project. ``I am interested and inclined towards the project,'' Ananthkumar said in reply to a question. He dismissed a query if the government would scout around for another group if the Tata-led consortium backed out of the project, saying it was `full of ifs'.

The Tatas confirmed in Mumbai on Thursday their decision to pull out of the project, and that they had sent a missive in this regard to Karnataka chief minister JH patel, who, however, maintains that there was no such officialcommunication. Tata Industries Limited, US-based Raytheon and Changi Airports Authority of Singapore are in the consortium for the project.