Infrastructure up 9 pc in August

The infrastructure sector grew by 9 per cent in August, up from 6.6 per cent in the same month last year, but cumulative growth during the first four months of the current fiscal fell to 6.6 per cent from 8.3 per cent a year ago.

The growth in August this year was largely driven by electricity, coal and cement that grew impressively, compared with the previous year. Cement production grew by 16.2 per cent, against 2.9 per cent last year. The cumulative growth from April to August for cement stood at 8.9 per cent, against 9.5 per cent in 2006-07.

Electricity generation clocked a growth of 8.7 per cent in August compared with 4.1 per cent in the same month last year. On a cumulative basis, it grew by 8.2 per cent as compared with 5.8 per cent last year during April to August.

Coal production registered a growth of 8.7 per cent compared with a measly 0.6 per cent in August 2006. Cumulative growth for coal production, however, fell to 1.3 per cent during April to August as against 6.6 per cent in 2006-07.

Crude petroleum production grew by a slower rate of 6.4 per cent in August 2007 as compared with 12 per cent in the previous year, while cumulative growth fell to 1.0 per cent, compared with a 3.1 per cent growth in 2006-07.

Petroleum refinery production also registered a slower growth of 8.2 per cent in August this year, compared with 12.1 per cent in August last year. Its cumulative growth fell to 10.4 per cent, against 12.1 per cent during the April-August period last year.

Finished carbon steel production grew by 8.5 per cent in August, compared with 9.5 per cent last year. On cumulative basis, growth fell to 5.9 per cent against a growth of 12.5 per cent during April to August in 2006-07.