New Delhi: Despite a slowdown on the disinvestment front with no major privatisation case coming through during the past one year, government has extended the tenure of the Disinvestment Commission by another year.

We have received a communication from government extending the life of the Commission till October 2004, Member Secretary Amitabha Bhattacharya said in New Delhi on July 4.

The move would not only enable the panel to wrap up work on existing cases under study but also allow it to take up work on review cases, he added.

Currently, the Commission is working on some 18-20 PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) including telecom giants Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL).

The Commission is also reviewing its recommendations on National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Concor.

It has also taken up work on promotional organisations like India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

The panel performs an advisory role for government giving recommendations on disinvestment of state enterprises, which are then processed by Disinvestment Ministry for further action.

Asked about fresh cases the Commission was planning to take up, Bhattacharya remained non- committal merely saying it was for the Commission to decide.

PTI