The severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) has failed to make significant inroads in India, but has managed to stall the disinvestment process.
The Centre has postponed discussions with potential bidders for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) from mid-April to the first week of May.
This was because key officials of several financial conglomerates based in Sars-hit Hong Kong and Singapore were unable to leave their countries.
Senior government officials associated with the disinvestment process said the meetings might be postponed further if the situation did not improve, forcing bidders to ask for a fresh date.
In the case of BPCL, expressions of interest have been already invited. But the government felt it would be better to ask foreign companies for oral presentations in the first week of May.
While the option of video-conferencing could be considered, the government said oral presentations would be more viable in view of the importance of the issue.
