Kolkata, Oct 29 (PTI) The West Bengal government islooking at a long-term solution for the ailing jute industryand likely to prepare a white paper for the revival of thesector that offers livelihood to lakhs of people.
The state government has offered a temporary solutionof procuring jute bags on behalf of the Centre to boost thedemand of the golden fibre.
Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department,Sanjeev Chopra, who chaired a recent meeting at the statesecretariat on the issue, suggested that a white paper mightbe prepared with inputs from all major stakeholders.
Once ready, the white paper could be placed at theGroup of Ministers' (GoM) meeting, a source present at themeeting told PTI.
"The state will procure 1.2 lakh bales of gunny bagsin the current kharif season at a cost of Rs 300-325 crore,which would then be reimbursed by the Centre," the sourcesaid.
The meeting noted that there was an alarming surplussituation of the TD6 (lower) variety of jute and farmers soldraw jute for around Rs 700 less than the minimum supportprice.
"The quantity is not large and the move (by the stategovernment) will offer a short-term solution. The majorproblem is that the TD6 variety cannot be used to make 580 gmbags," a former chairman of Indian Jute Mills Association(IJMA) said.
The Jute Corporation of India (JCI), during themeeting, also informed the officials they were facing shortageof funds for raw material procurement.
JCI operates 27 direct purchase centres out of 171 inWest Bengal. It had purchased just 65,000 bales under MSP outof the total state production of 65 lakh bales this kharifseason. PTI BSM RMSRBT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.