'Growth rate may dip'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 23. The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today conceded that the overall growth rate of the economy for the last fiscal year might dip due to the drought conditions in some parts of the country.

Responding to queries on the sidelines of the meeting held to release the report of the Group of Ministers on reforming the national security system, Mr. Sinha said because of the likely shortfall of 12 million tonnes in agricultural production because of the drought and other factors during 2000-01, the overall gross domestic product (GDP) might come down marginally.

``We are awaiting the report of the Central Statistical Organisation on the GDP growth. The less than one per cent growth in agriculture in the previous year too had impacted on the growth rate and that could happen for 2000-01 too. But by how much, we would have to see,'' he said.

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Section  : National
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