Ravalgaon s Cane Worries

Electrical Industry Blues THE electrical equipment manufacturing industry in the country has made good progress and can now meet the entire home demand except for a few very sophisticated items for which there is only a limited demand. Soon the country will be producing large steam and hydraulic turbines and generators as well as transformers along with the necessary switch and control gear, transmission lines and line materials. But while the industry's capacity has expanded remarkably, actual output has remained below the Plan targets and has been stagnant; in some cases it has even declined. In cables, transformers and switchgear, under-utilisation of capacity ranges between 30 and 50 per cent. Manufacturing capacities were created on the basis of the optimistic targets of the Third Plan which have remained unfulfilled. What has aggravated the position of the industry, particularly the medium and heavy equipment sectors of it, is the sharp decline in orders from State electricity boards, railways and other Government undertakings and projects. With their order books almost completely worked out, many units are now struggling for survival.