The Hindu Business Line : Infrastructure growth falls to 3.6 pc in April

COAL production recorded a growth of 8.2 per cent, highest among the six core sectors in April 2005, while the overall infrastructural growth rate for the month slowed down to 3.6 per cent from 10.5 per cent in April 2004 on face of decline in petroleum refining and crude oil production.

Growth in coal production recorded at 8.2 per cent was higher compared to 7.2 per cent in April last year. Coal output reached 30.5 million tonnes (mt) compared to 28.2 mt last April. But for other sectors this year's growth rate is lower than last year.

Petroleum refining production declined by 7.9 per cent while production of crude petroleum decreased by 0.4 per cent during the month compared to a growth of 13.3 per cent and 9.4 per cent in April 2004.

Electricity production declined sharply in April this year registering a growth of 2.9 per cent compared to 10.5 per cent in April last year. The country generated 50.326 million units of electricity in April, marginally higher than 48.930 million units the previous year.

Cement production grew by only 6.9 per cent during the review month as against an impressive 16.5 per cent while finished steel production rose 7.5 per cent compared to 9.2 per cent in April 2004.

The six infrastructure industries, which have a combined weightage of 26.68 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production, had posted 4.4 per cent growth in 2004-05 as against a high of 6.2 per cent growth during 2003-04.

Crude oil production stood at 2.802 mt in April this year against 2.814 mt a year ago. Refinery throughput remained at 8.930 mt against 9.694 mt .

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