The Prime Minister's Office, PMO, has asked about two dozen top PSUs including ONGC, GAIL, NTPC and BHEL to spend the targeted 1.42 lakh crore rupees in capital expenditure for the current fiscal or else pay higher dividends to help boost sagging economy.

PMO will closely monitor capital investments and project implementation by the 23 public sector units. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Pulok Chatterji, yesterday took a review meeting of capital investment in projects by public sector firms.

It was decided to add seven more, including Nuclear Power Corporation, to the list of those monitored for project implementation and spending.