The Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) has urged the West Bengal government to block any move by the Central government to dilute the norms for compulsory packaging norms for food grain and sugar produce in jute bags.
There are speculations that government has approved the textiles ministry’s recommendation for 60% dilution in the mandatory Jute Packaging Materials Act (JPMA) of 1987 for packing sugar and food grains. The Act directs all sugar factories to use jute bags for packing sugar to the extent of 100%.
Manish Poddar, president, IJMA, said, the there has been no intimation by the Union government on dilution of norms. The order book of the jute industry for sugar at present stood at at 2 lakh, 70000 bales, which was same as it was last year, said Poddar.
“We have not received any order from the Union government on dilution of JPMA norms. However, we have already written to the state government to resist any such move,” said Poddar.
The production of raw jute for the 2012-13 jute year is close to 90 lakh bales, and the industry has carryover stock of 40 lakh bales. Production and availability of raw jute was enough to meet the mill requirements this year, Poddar said.
