Infrastructure growth declined marginally to 4.7 per cent during December 2005 from 4.8 per cent a year ago, largely on account of a sharp decline in crude oil output and poor performance in power sector. The core sector growth would have been even much lower but for the robust performance in the cement industry and a rebound in steel production. While cement production rose 13.4 per cent during December 2005 compared to 8.3 per cent in the same month a year ago, steel production increased by 6.7 per cent as against 3.8 per cent in December 2004.

Crude oil production fell sharply to register a negative8.1 per cent growth in December 2005 as against a negative 0.6 per cent, while electricity sector posted a growth of only 2.9 per cent as against 4.4 per cent in the year-ago month, according to the data released by the government on January 30, 2006.

Coal production grew at a slower rate of 6.6 per cent compared to 7.7 per cent in December 2004, while refining throughput increased by 8.8 per cent as against 9.2 per cent.

Cumulative growth of the six sectors in April-December2005-06 also declined to 4.5 per cent compared to 6.4 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago. Except cement, other five sectors posted lower growth rates during the period.

Crude oil production witnessed a negative 5.9 per cent growth during the period as against 2.8 per cent a year ago, refining a mere 0.4 per cent from 6.6 per cent and coal 5.7 per cent compared to 7.3 per cent a year ago.

Electricity production grew by a lower 4.7 per cent so far this fiscal as against 6.4 per cent in the same period last fiscal, while steel output grew by 7.1 per cent from 7.5 per cent a year ago. Cement production rose by 10.9 per cent in December 2005 as against 6.9 per cent a year ago.

(www.financialexpress.com)