Infrastructure Sectors Grew 4.1% In January

Despite a slowdown in the growth of infrastructure industries in January 2003, the index for six core sectors grew 5.2 per cent during April-January 2002-03, as against 3.1 per cent in the corresponding period last fiscal.

According to data released by the government today, the six infrastructure sectors posted a growth of 4.1 per cent in January 2003, compared to 7.1 per cent in the corresponding month last year.

The index stood at 181.8 at the end of January 2003, compared to 174.6 in January 2002.

While coal production fell 0.6 per cent to 31.9 million tonnes in January 2002, from 32.1 million tonnes in January last year, electricity generation grew 4 per cent during the period.

Petroleum refining and cement registered a growth of 9.2 per cent each. The production of petroleum refinery products grew from 8.72 million tonnes in January 2002 to 9.52 million tonnes in January 2003.

Crude production was up 0.4 per cent to 2.79 million tonnes in January this year, from 2.78 million tonnes last year. Finished steel production rose 4.5 per cent to 2.99 million tonnes in January 2003 from 2.86 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

During April-January 2002-03, crude production grew 3.3 per cent, compared to the 1.8 per cent decrease in production during the corresponding period last fiscal. However, the production of petroleum refinery products posted a 4.2 per cent growth during April-January 2002-03, as against a 4.9 per cent growth in the corresponding period of 2001-02.

Cement production grew 7.7 per cent during the 10-month period this fiscal, as against 5.9 per cent during April-January 2001-02. Finished steel production was up 9.7 per cent during April-January this fiscal, compared to 5.9 per cent in the same period last fiscal.

January was the second month at a stretch when the six core sectors posted a growth of over 4 per cent. In December 2002, the index had registered a 4.2 per cent growth.