Himachal to grow at 6.5 per cent

Shimla :The economy of Himachal Pradesh is expected to grow by 6.5 per cent in the current financial year.This is a notch less than the national growth of 7.5 per cent.

The latest economic survey report was tabled in the state assembly here Tuesday.In recent years the state has grown a shade faster than the national growth, but this year the hill state has fallen behind.

The per capita income is expected to cross the lakh mark at 104,943 in the current fiscal.The GSDP at current prices is estimated to touch Rs 85,841 crore.

Agriculture generates 14 per cent to the GSDP. Fruit production was 6.53 lakh MT till the end of last year.
Apple has the lion’s share of fruits at 89 per cent. Apple production fell to 5.81 lakh tonnes as compared to 7.39 lakh tonnes the previous year.

Off-season vegetable production last time was 14.30 lakh tonnes this is expected to be a shade a higher at 14.50 lakh tonnes this fiscal.

Tourism contributes 7.5 per cent to the state GDP.Last year the highest number of tourists visited the hill state at 1.63 crore, this includes 3.90 lakh foreigners.

The economic survey report says there are 2,377 hotels having a bed capacity of 61,236.

Blessed with a potential of 27,434 MW of hydro power the state has been able to tap only a third of this potential at 9,433 MW.

On latest count the report says there are 502 medium and large scale industries. Small scale industries has gone up to 40,429 with a total investment of about Rs 18,307 crore.