According to the data compiled by the Department of Heavy Industries, low growth in the non-engineering segment coupled with a eight per cent negative growth, in the engineering segment pulling down overall production growth during the period April-December 2000-01.

Growth performance during the month of December 2000, was also negative by 3.32 per cent at Rs 962 crore, compared to Rs 1,011 crore in the previous year.

Cumulative production performance upto the month of December in case of engineering units was Rs 5,471 crore compared to Rs 5,996 crore in the same period last year, on account of negative growth in eight PSUs including BHEL, Andrew Yule, HEC and HMT. The non-engineering segment witnessed a 6.5 per cent growth at Rs 749 crore as against Rs 703 crore in the same month in 1999.

Engineering units recorded a negative 7.73 per cent growth during the month of December at Rs 816 crore as against Rs 884.70 crore in 1999, again on account of negative growth attained by five PSUs in the sector. The non-engineering units achieved a 9.7 per cent growth in production at Rs 85 crore as compared to Rs 77.5 crore, the previous year while the consultancy units attained a healthy 25.5 per cent growth at Rs 61.57 crore, compared to 49 crore in December last year.

BHEL, a leading engineering PSU posted a 14.27 per cent negative growth rate during April-December, 2000, at Rs 3,353 crore compared to Rs 3,911 crore during the same period the previous year.

Other PSUs in the segment which posted negative growth rate include : Andrew Yule with 19 per cent at Rs 131 crore as against Rs 162 crore in 1999, HEC with a whopping 48.8 per cent at Rs 105 crore as against Rs 205 crore in the previous year, HMT with 5.6 per cent at Rs 439 crore compared to Rs 465 last year. Of the nine PSUs in the non-engineering segment, four recorded negative growth rates between 21-53 per cent.

(PTI)