West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Left oppose jute packaging Act dilution

KOLKATA: The centre's proposed dilution and phasing out of Jute Packaging Materials Act has drawn united opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the CPI(M), as it would have severe impact on three lakh workers and 40 lakh jute farmers.

Banerjee in a recent letter to Union Textile Minister Santosh K Gangwar had said, "I believe that ... the reserved percentage of jute packaging material is about to be drastically reduced and phased out altogether".

Further, the step will suck Rs 8,000 crore out of the economy of which Rs 3,000 crore is by way of wages and Rs 5,000 crore as value of raw jute industry buys from farmers, the letter said.

"I would request that cental government should not go ahead with the proposed reduction of reservation of jute packaging," the Chief Minister said in the letter.

A Union finance ministry note in November has recommended dilution and finally phase-out of the Act within next two years.

The step would jeopardise lives and liviohood of lakhs of families in West Bengal and jute related states, she apprehended.

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and CITU general secretary Tapan K Sen said they are totally against the proposed dilution.

He told PTI that opposing the Centre's move he had already raised the jute industry crisis in the Upper House on December 9.

Sen said he highlighted the livelihood involved with the industry and pointed out that already with the current level of dilution, farmers are facing deep trouble.

"The industry had cut the production level and due to this daily deployment of workers is about 15,0000 only, explaining the depth of the crisis.

"The situation is also affecting the jute growers as they are compelled to make distress sale of their jute produce at Rs 1,600 per quintal although the minimum support price is Rs 2,400 per quintal," Sen said.