Calcutta, July 18: The Union textile ministry today used its special powers to extend the validity of the jute packaging act till August 15.

The act had terminated on June 30, and usual Cabinet approval to extend it by a year had got delayed by a fortnight because of the political uncertainty at the Centre.

Instances of synthetic bags replacing jute bags have been reported, prompting the textile ministry to invoke its special powers that allow it to take emergency measures.

The Indian Jute Mills Association had complained to the government about rice mills in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Bengal using synthetic bags.

Bag demand

The jute industry is upbeat about the requirement of bags for packing foodgrains in the current fiscal.

At a high-level meeting of the textile ministry, the requirement for bags was fixed at 8.5 lakh tonnes for the kharif season against 8.2 lakh tonnes last year.

The directorate general of supplies and disposal, of the Union civil supplies ministry, has already placed orders for 1.32 lakh bales for July.

Each bale comprises 500 bags of 50 kilogramme each. Sources said the directorate was expected to place orders for 1.50 lakh bales for August.