Himachal Pradesh’s economy is expected to perform comparatively better than the national growth rate as the state is likely to achieve growth rate of 6.2 percent in this fiscal year, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said today.
Releasing the economic survey in the state assembly today, Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of finance said that state is likely to slightly perform better as its growth rate is likely to pegged around 6.2 percent that of 6.1 in last fiscal year.
In the last fiscal year, state’s economy was highly dependent on hydroelectric power, horticulture and tourism.
“The per capita income is estimated at Rs.92,300 for 2013-14,” the chief minister said.
He said the growth rate during the eleventh plan from 2007-12 has been the same both for the state and all-India, which is 8 percent.
He said the state had achieved a growth rate of 7.4 percent in 2008-09, which reached 8.1 percent in 2009-10 and is likely to grow by 9 percent in 2010-11.
The increase in the total state domestic product is mainly attributed to 9.5 per cent growth of primary sector that included agriculture, forestry and mining.
During 2012-13, food-grains production registered a rise of 1.6 percent against the previous year. It was 15.68 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 and in this fiscal it is pegged at 15.16 lakh tonnes, the survey said.
Fruit production was 8.28 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 (up to December 2013) against 5.56 lakh tonnes in 2012-13.
“Apple constitutes about 89 percent of the total fruit production. During 2013-14 (up to December 2013), 7.39 lakh tonnes of apples were produced against 4.12 lakh tonnes in 2012-13,” the report said.
There are 494 medium and large-scale industries and 39,819 small scale industries with an investment of Rs.17,39,89 crore in the state.
Himachal Pradesh’s hydro-power generation potential is 23,000 MW – about 25 percent of country’s total hydro-power potential. However, only 8,432 MW of power has been tapped till December last year, which is 36 per cent of the total potential.
Also, according to the report, Himachal Pradesh attracted 161.46 lakh tourists in 2012. Shimla district emerged as state’s perfect destination, both for domestic and international guests, by getting the maximum tourists at 33,540,03.
The hill state, said the report, has 63 helipads. “There is a proposal to construct two new helipads, one at Kalabag near Churdhar in Sirmaur district and another at Sanjauli in Shimla,” it said.
