The CCD meet on Tuesday is also expected to discuss divestment in Maruti Udyog, Bharat Aluminium Corporation (Balco) and Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL).

According to official sources, the department of disinvestment (DoD) has reached a consensus with the communications ministry over privatisation of VSNL. Instead of going for a strategic sale, the government may decide to sell 7 per cent of VSNL equity. Earlier, the DoD had recommended the sale of at least 26 per cent equity in VSNL to a strategic buyer. The government holds 53 per cent stake in VSNL. The communications ministry, however, did not agree with this proposal. This led to the cancellation of the CCD meeting on December 23. Sources said that the 7 per cent equity sale will be accompanied by a roadmap for VSNL, in which the future course of the company would be chalked out.The CCD meet is likely to clear the sale of 51 per cent stake in Mecon Ltd.

Set up in 1959 for self-sufficiency in consultancy and engineering services, the company played a key role in the setting up of the three integrated steel plants of SAIL with foreign technical assistance. The erstwhile disinvestment commission had recommended sale of a minimum of 51 per cent along with management control to a strategic partner.

The core group of secretaries on disinvestment discussed privatisation of Mecon last month and accepted the recommendations of the disinvestment commission regarding 51 per cent strategic sale of the company. CMC was not referred to the commission. The DoD and the ministry of information technology has jointly prepared a proposal for CMC's privatisation, which favours a strategic sale.