Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has sought the intervention of her counterpart at the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution ministry to help stave off the risk of jute mill closures by increasing orders for jute sacks for packaging food grains.

The Textiles Ministry had granted a relaxation of .25 million bales for HPDE/PP bags based on a projection of bag requirement for food grains packaging and an anticipated shortage of supply of jute bags. This relaxation was given to ensure that the food-procurement program is not affected due to the anticipated shortfall in supply of jute bags till March 31.

The secretary also noted that subsequently the total requirement till April was projected at 1.67 million bales, of which the order for jute bags was put at 1.37 million bales. The jute industry had already met 93.4 per cent of this order.

The textiles ministry contends that the total bag requirement (including HDPE) was now being put at only 1.56 million bales and that unless the order allowing the use of HDPE bags was withdrawn the jute industry could be hit.

JPMA was enacted to protect the interest of raw jute farmers and workers involved in the production of jute goods by compulsory usage of jute bags for supply and distribution of commodities.