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The Himachal Pradesh economy is expected to grow at 6.2 per cent this financial year, 1.2 per cent higher than the national growth rate.
Presenting the Economic Survey 2012-13 in the state Assembly here Wednesday, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said while the estimated growth of the state is estimated at 6.2 per cent, the growth at the national level is five per cent .
"The gross state domestic product (GSDP) in 2011-12 increased to Rs 63,812 crore from Rs 56,355 crore the previous year .The advanced estimate for the current financial year is likely to be Rs 72,076 crore ,"he said.
The wholesale price index remained at elevated levels.The WPI was 7.2 per cent in December 2012. A revenue of Rs 26,17.43 crore has been mobilised upto November 2012, the survey said.
Fruit production was 4.67 lakh tonnes in the current financial year until December 2012 against 3.73 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
Apple constitutes 87 per cent of the total fruit production.In the current fiscal 3.92 lakh tonnes of apple was produced against 2.75 lakh tonnes a year earlier .
Foodgrain production was 15.54 lakh tonnes against 14.94 lakh tonnes a year earlier , registering an increase of over 4 per cent.
The state was able to attract 161,46332 tourists last year , including 500,284 foreigners . Shimla district saw the largest rise followed by Kullu and Kangra districts , the report said.
Having a huge hydro-electricity potential of 23,000 Mw the state has so far tapped 8,368 Mw by various agencies which is over a third of the total potential .
There are 494 medium and large scale industries and about 38,592 small scale industries with a total investment of about Rs 16,588 crore in the state .
The government has just announced free travel in state roadways buses to all students of government schools across the hill state .
