The Hindu Business Line : Core sector posts 5.2 pc growth

The higher growth has been mainly powered by cement and finished steel, with their production rising by 8.8 per cent (from 106.90 million tonnes to 116.35 m.t.) and 8.7 per cent (from 31.62 m.t. to 34.38 m.t.), respectively during the fiscal.

The fact that these growth rates come on top of the production increases of 7.4 per cent (cement) and 4.4 per cent (steel) shows these two industries are in full revival mode, benefiting from the Government's stepped up outlays on the National Highways Development Programme.

The story is, however, less encouraging with respect to other infrastructure industries. Production of crude petroleum during 2002-03, at 33.07 m.t., was only 3.3 per cent higher than the previous year's level of 32.03 m.t., while amounting to less than the output of 32.43 m.t. in 2000-01. Production of refined petro-products touched 104.68 m.t. in 2002-03, which was 4.9 per cent higher than the 99.77-m.t. level of 2001-02 and 96.21 m.t. for 2000-01. The output of coal during 2002-03, at 336.7 m.t., was 4.3 per cent higher than the previous year's 322.78 m.t. and the 309.6-m.t. production achieved in 2000-01.

Finally, in the case of electricity, total generation during the fiscal just ended was estimated at 531.43 billion units (kilo-watt hours), which was 3.1 per cent higher than the 515.25 billion units produced in 2001-02. And significantly, electricity generation from hydel sources has fallen for a second consecutive year, to 63.77 billion units, from 73.94 billion units in 2001-02 and 74.48 billion units in 2000-01. .

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