MPs across political parties on Wednesday cornered the government in the Lok Sabha over the shortage of jute gunny bags for storage and transportation of wheat. In response, the government admitted to the shortage of jute bags this year because of record procurement of wheat in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, but assured to solve the problem before monsoon.

As soon as the House assembled, SP MPs trooped in the well and demanded that the Centre make available sufficient jute bags for the procurement of wheat in UP. BJP members made a similar demand for MP.

With agitating MPs not relenting, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House till noon. Later, after the House had re-assembled, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee intervened to explain the situation. He said: “The level of expectation of procurement by the state administration at that point of time (of indentation for gunny bags) was less, and the actual procurement was much more (in MP and UP). So, the required quantity of jute bags...has increased substantially.” He added: “Current production of the jute bags is 2,50,000 per month. We have asked them (jute industry in Bengal) and they are producing 25,000 additional bags.”

MP to buy used gunny bags
BHOPAL: Amid reports of farmers looting gunny bags in rural areas, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday announced new measures to streamline wheat procurement that has witnessed violence and started a political storm in the state. Procurement would not stop due to lack of gunny bags, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said while accusing the Centre of repeatedly breaking its promise to supply the requisite quantity of jute bags. Farmers have been told that the government would buy old and used bags from them.