Top PSU heads look forward to meet PM soon: SCOPE

They are likely to discuss various issues including future investment plans and overall performance of the state-owned companies

Heads of public sector units are looking forward to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss various issues including future investment plans and overall performance of the state-owned companies, Standing Conference of Public Enterprises today said.

"We are looking forward to one more meeting with the Prime Minister soon. Couple of issues already discussed in the first meeting are in progress," Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Chairman Arup Roy Choudhury said at a function here.

A Committee of Secretaries was set up to resolve sectoral issues. The panel further created groups to look into issues impacting various sectors like infrastructure and finance, and quicken decision making process in these companies.

Choudhury said progress has been made on a couple of issues. The panel, which was set up after the meeting with the Prime Minister, is actively looking at issues like overseas asset acquisitions by CPSEs.

"Decision-making issues have large financial ramifications because of the environment of suspicion surrounding them and sometimes decision is not made in the right time. The Group of Secretaries is also looking at it," he said.

The Prime Minister had convened a meeting of heads of 25 CPSEs in October last year, to discuss a number of issues including surplus funds of PSUs, financial autonomy and acquisitions.

It was decided during last year's meeting that the Prime Minister would meet the heads of PSUs every six months.

The meeting was attended by top PSU heads including those of BHEL, Coal India, GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation, Steel Authority of India, Shipping Corporation of India and Indian Railways Finance Corporation.

As on March 2012, there were 260 CPSEs in the country, with a total investment of Rs 7.29 lakh crore.