Question : JUTE PACKAGING MATERIALS ACT, 1987

(a) whether the Government are contemplating to introduce an amendment to Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987;

(b) if so, the details thereof and its impact on jute industry;

(c) whether out of 73 Jute mills in our country, 59 are located in West Bengal;

(d) whether according to the Working Group related to Jute, out of total Jute production of 105 lakh bales during 2001-2002 West Bengal will produce 88-92 lakh bales of raw Jute which will fetch 16.5 lakh ton Jute;

(e) whether the Government are considering to move out of its preservation policy; and

(f) if so, the details of the impact of the removal of the preservation policy on the jute growers ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI V. DHANANJAY KUMAR)

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) 59 out of 76 jute mills in the country are located in West Bengal.

(d) The Jute Advisory Board has estimated production of raw jute in the year 2001-02 at 105 lakh bales of 180 kg each out of which 73.20 lakh bales (13.17 lakh tons) are expected to be produced in West Bengal.

(e) & (f) The Government has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee consisting of the Minister of Textiles, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution to consider all relevant issues and to formulate a road map for the progressive dilution of compulsory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987. The Inter Ministerial Committee has not yet submitted its report.