Kolkata, Dec 24 (PTI) Food Corporation of India (FCI),the jute sector's biggest consumer, has expresseddisappointment over use of the new lightweight 580-gm jutebags mandated by the Centre for packing food grains.
In a letter to the Jute Commissioner earlier thismonth, the FCI said that in the last one year, thespecifications of jute gunny bags have been revised twice,diluting its bag weight, breaking strength, etc.
"FCI had to face difficulties due to bleeding bags,resistance from PDS authorities and wastage of food grains,"it said in the letter.
Jute industry sources told PTI that they estimatelosses to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore arising out the new lowweight bags' usage, and savings of only about Rs 200 crore.
The government introduced the 580-gram bags replacingthe 665-gram heavy bags in December, 2015.
Each year, the FCI procures around 8-10 lakh ton ofgunny bags on behalf of state food agencies, at a totalprice of around Rs 6,000 crore.
The procurement and distribution of food grainsundergoes at least eight stages of handling, logistics andother processes, the sources said.
The use of low quality raw jute in the manufacture ofthe light bags will further worsen the situation for FCI, itadded in the letter. PTI BSMRBT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.