The mining and quarrying
sector registered a positive growth of 7% in October 2002 as compared
to the preceding month mainly due to higher production of coal,
lignite, natural gas(utilized), petroleum (crude), bauxite, chromite,
copper conc., iron ore, manganese ore, dolomite and limestone.
The mineral production in October 2002 showed 4% increase as compared
to that of the corresponding month of previous year.
The total value
of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals)
in the country during October 2002 was Rs.4716 crore as compared
to Rs.4371 crore in September 2002. The contribution of coal was
the highest at Rs.1823 crore(39%). Next in the order of importance
were: petroleum (crude) Rs.1565 crore, natural gas (utilized)
Rs.731 crore, iron ore Rs.165 crore, limestone Rs.121 crore and
lignite Rs.96 crore. These six minerals together contributed 95%
of the total value of mineral production in October 2002.
Production level
of important minerals in October 2002 were: coal 282 lakh tonnes,
lignite 16 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2514 million cu.m.,
petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 684 thousand tonnes,
chromite 313 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 14 thousand tonnes,
gold 270 kg., iron ore 65 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 5 thousand tonnes,
manganese ore 131 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 39 thousand tonnes,
apatite & phosphorite 87 thousand tonnes, dolomite 273 thousand
tonnes, limestone 119 lakh tonnes and magnesite 24 thousand tonnes.
During October,
2002 the output of lignite increased by 31%, dolomite 25%, chromite
24%, coal 15%, bauxite 12%, limestone 6%, petroleum (crude) and
iron ore 4% each, copper conc. 3% and natural gas (utilised) 2%
as compared to the preceding month. However, the output of zinc
conc and magnesite decreased by 9% each, lead conc., 6%, gold
5% and apatite & phosphorite 4 percent. The output of manganese
ore remained almost same at the level of previous month.
