Infrastructure sector grows 10.2% in June

By agencies   |   Thursday, 28 July 2005, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: The growth rate in the six infrastructure industries stood at 10.2 percent for June 2005 - up 2.4 percent compared to the same period last fiscal. This was mainly because of the buoyancy in steel, cement, and power sectors. The improved performance in these three sectors was able to offset the slowdown in crude oil, refining, and coal sectors to take the overall growth in the six core industries to 10.2 percent, according to an official release. Finished steel output improved by 21.9 percent during the month compared to a decline of 1.8 percent in June last year; cement production jumped 13.3 percent against a negative growth of 3.9 percent earlier. Simultaneously, power generation rose 9.3 percent compared to 4.6 percent a year back. Petroleum refining production went down by 1.1 percent while production of crude petroleum increased by a marginal 0.4 percent during the month against growth of 9.6 percent and 1.1 percent respectively in June 2004. Coal sector growth also slowed down during the month to 3.2 percent from 6.6 percent. Cumulative growth of the six infrastructure industries during the first quarter stood at 5.5 percent (8.1 percent), the release added.