“SAC on Jute in a meeting recently with all the stakeholders has recommended dilution in Jute Packaging Material Act for foodgrains by 5 per cent to 85 per cent from 90 per cent in the last fiscal year,” jute industry sources told PTI.

 

The SAC, however, wants 20 per cent mandatory jute bag packaging in sugar to continue.

 

In the normal course, the recommendations of the SAC are adopted by the government. The jute packaging order mandates the government to ensure packaging of foodgrains and sugar in jute bags.

 

Sources claimed that the government has recommended dilution after jute mills allegedly failed to supply the requisite quantity of bags in the last two years. The Food Ministry had recommended reducing mandatory packaging in jute for foodgrains to 75 per cent.

 

Jute sector sources said the West Bengal representative also conditionally accepted the Centre’s suggestion to use plastic/synthetic bags instead of jute bags. “It will help the Centre to build cases against the jute industry and scrap the packaging Act in future,” sources said.