The ministry of petroleum has opposed the disinvestment of Engineers India Ltd (EIL) on the ground that it holds designs of key atomic plants.
The disinvestment ministry has referred the issue to the department of atomic energy and the sale of EIL will now go forward only after it gets a security clearance.
According to a Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment (CCD) decision, defence, railways, and atomic energy are considered strategic sectors from the point of view of national security and public sector companies dealing with these sectors will remain under government control.
When contacted, a disinvestment ministry official confirmed the move but said it would at best result in a slight delay.
