Central Public Sector Enterprises contributed 8.23 per cent to gross domestic product during FY'07, compared to 8.21 per cent a year ago.

About 40 top positions in central public sector enterprises have been lying vacant for more than three months due to delay in vigilance clearance and approval of competent authority, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Sontosh Mohan Dev said 12 posts of chief executives and 28 posts of functional directors are unoccupied.

"The reasons for the above vacancies include delay in obtaining vigilance clearance/approval of competent authority for appointment to such posts, delay in taking over of charge by the appointee, sudden vacancies, court cases etc," he said.

Dev said the government has issued detailed guidelines indicating the defined time frame for filling up high posts in CPSEs.

The guidelines provide that the Public Enterprises Selection Board makes its recommendations at least six months in advance of the date of occurrence of vacancies and communicates the same to the concerned department.

In reply to another question, the minister said the government has decided to revive ailing PSE Nepa Ltd through a joint venture partner.

Except for the chairman and directors of the company, every employee would continue to be in office even after the proposed disinvestment.