New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS): India's core infrastructure sector that includes coal, power, cement and oil and gas, registered a growth of 2.1 percent in December, government data showed Friday.

The growth in the core infrastructure that includes eight industries was 1.7 percent in the previous month year-on-year.

There was positive growth in power, steel, fertilizer, while output of natural gas and coal declined.

Power output that has 10.32 percent weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) registered a growth of 6.7 percent during the month under review, according to data released by the ministry of commerce and industry here.

Steel production increased by 3.1 percent, cement output rose by 1.1 percent, fertilizer production jumped by 4.1 percent and crude oil production increased by 1.6 percent in December year-on-year.

However, coal output declined by 0.6 percent, natural gas production slumped by 9.9 percent, and petroleum refinery production fell by 1.7 percent.