<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>Proposals to sell some of government stakes in state-run firms Bharat Heavy Electricals, and National Aluminium Co Ltd (Nalco) are at "various stages" of consideration before the government approves them, the finance minister said on Friday.<br><br>There are proposals to divest a 5 per cent stake in Bhel and to sell a 10 per cent government stake in Nalco, Pranab Mukherjee told parliament in a written reply.<br><br>Bhel is India's top power gear maker, while Nalco is the country's third largest producer of aluminum.<br><br>The government is in the midst of a programme to raise about $8.9 billion through share sales in public sector firms including ONGC and SAIL this fiscal year (April-March) to cut its fiscal deficit and generate funds for schemes for the poor.<br><br>Mukherjee also said the government has approved selling the entire stakes in loss-making state-run firms Central Water Transport Corp, Scooters India Ltd and Tyre Corp of India to a strategic partner.<br><br>BHEL shares fell more than 4 per cent to Rs 1,687.80 on the National Stock Exchange, while those of NALCO dropped about 3 percent to Rs 59 by 1.15 PM. The broader market was down 2.5 per cent.<br><br>(Reuters)</p>