The index of six infrastructure industries grew 3.9 per cent in February 2003, compared to 4.4 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
During April-February 2002, however, the index rose 5.2 per cent to 170.8, compared to a growth of 3.2 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
The slower growth in February 2003 was mainly on account of poor performance of the electricity and the coal sectors.
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While electricity generation was only 0.1 per cent higher at 40,852 units in February 2003, compared to 40,829 units last year when generation rose 2.9 per cent, coal production grew 1 per cent to 27.7 million tonnes in February this year, compared to 29.4 units in the corresponding period last year, when a 4.6 per cent growth was registered.
According to the latest data released by the government today, the cement sector also performed better than last year with production rising 5.2 per cent in February this year compared to 19.6 per cent last year.
During April-February 2002-03, however, production increased 9.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Crude petroleum production grew 4.9 per cent in February this year to 2.55 million tonnes, compared to 2.43 million tonnes last year when the production dipped marginally.
Similarly, petroleum refinery products also bounced back with a growth of 7.1 per cent during last month compared to a 0.1 per cent decrease in February 2002.
Finished steel production also rose 8.4 per cent in February this year compared to 5.8 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
During April-February this year, production rose 7.8 per cent, against 3.7 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
The performance of the infrastructure has been on the downslide for the last four months with growth in each month of the current financial year lower than the corresponding period last year.