Infrastructure records lower growth in July

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 2. The six major infrastructure industries have registered a lower growth rate of 5.7 per cent in July this year as against 7.3 per cent in July last year. The cumulative growth during April-July 2000, however, was 7.4 per cent as compared to 7.1 per cent achieved in the corresponding period last year, an official statement said.

Except for crude oil production, all the other sectors - electricity, steel, petroleum refinery products, cement and coal registered positive growth during April-July 2000. Crude oil output recorded a negative two per cent growth during period under reference while recovering some lost ground in July with a 0.2 per cent growth as against a negative growth of 2.2 per cent in the same period last year.

The coal sector showed an impressive growth rate of 8.5 per cent during April-July this year as compared to a negative growth of 2.2 per cent in corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity generation clocked 3.9 per cent growth as against 5 per cent in the same period last year. In July the sector posted a one per cent growth as against 6.2 per cent growth in July 1999.

The growth rate for steel in April-July slowed down to 10.7 per cent from 12.7 per cent in the corresponding period last year, while that during July slowed down to 8.4 per cent from 12.9 per cent in July 1999.

The cement sector witnessed a sharp decline registering a growth rate of 4.4 per cent during April-July as against 20.6 per cent in the same period last year.

- PTI

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Section  : Business
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