NORTH-EAST-Broader Identities

Cement despatches have been severely affected in the last two years following the drastic cuts in orders from the govern- ment. The metal industries here are puny in size by international standards and yet they have faced a fall in production due to reduced demand. Total production of finished steel at 15.1 million tonnes increased by 5.4 per cent in 1992-93 and by 5.9 per cent in 1991-92. Aluminium production declined by 5.7 per cent in 1992-93 because of low offtake by the state electricity boards which are starved of funds and by the automobile industry which is recession-hit. Production of commercial vehicles fell by 10.2 per cent in 1992-93 against an increase of 3 per cent in 1991-92 which was itself low as compared with an increase of about 16 per cent in 1990-91. Production of passenger cars also fell by 2 per cent and of two-wheelers by 6.4 per cent in 1992-93