Wednesday, December 22 2004 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Infrastructure sector growth fell by 1 per cent to 5 per cent in November 2004 as compared to the year-ago period, mainly due to the slowdown in growth of petroleum refining, electricity generation and production of finished steel.

However, during April-November, the growth in the core sectors -- crude petroleum, petroleum refined products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel, was higher at 5.8 per cent as against 5.4 per cent in the corresponding period in 2003-04, according to official data released in New Delhi today (Dec 22, 2004).

In November, output of refined petroleum products could grow by only about one per cent (against 20 per cent a year ago period), electricity generation by four per cent (from 4.8 per cent) and finished steel by 6.4 per cent (from 8.4 per cent), pulling down the overall infrastructure growth.

Had it not been for coal's impressive growth of 7.1 per cent (from a meagre 2.2 per cent in previous year period), cement's 11.4 per cent (from 4.6 per cent) and crude oil's 0.9 per cent (from negative 1.1 per cent), the growth in infrastructure, which has been receiving increased attention from the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government, would have slowed down more in November.

During the first eight months of this fiscal, electricity generation and coal production growth more than doubled to 6.8 per cent and 7.2 per cent, finished steel output growth was up to 6.7 per cent and crude output recorded 3.3 per cent, offsetting the fall in growth of finished steel and petroleum refined products and leading to marginal rise in overall infrastructure growth to 5.8 per cent.