(a) whether large quantity of jute twine is being illegally imported from Nepal affecting the livelihood of thousands of poor workers and cultivators of Small Scale Jute Twine Manufacturing Industries of Andhra Pradesh;
(b) if so, whether all the units are going through acute financial crisis due to illegal entry;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps the Government proposes to check the illegal entry and to protect the lives of poor workers?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) : Government has not received any information from the Central Excise and Customs Department regarding illegal import of jute twine from Nepal.
(b)& (c) :No such report has been received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
(d) : Keeping in view the sufficient availability of jute products and to discourage import of jute goods, adequate safeguard has been taken by Govt. of India . In this regard, Jute Commissioner issued Gazette Notification No.S.O.698 (E) dated 04-07-2002 making it compulsory for all importers to ensure marking of every imported jute bags with country of origin so that such bags do not find their way into food grains and sugar sectors. Another Gazette Notification No.S.O.828(E) dated 28.08.2001 has been issued by the Jute Commissioner directing that no person shall manufacture and or hold stock of Jute goods (including imported jute products) meant for packaging purposes having more than 3% Non-halogenated Hydrocarbons (Jute Batching Oil) by weight. Apart from this, the Jute Commissioner writes from time to time Central Excise and Customs to see that no illegal import of jute products takes place.