Calcutta, Oct. 11: The Union textile ministry has decided to reduce the weight of jute sacks by 85 grams from November 1.

The move is expected to benefit the mills, which are facing a shortage of raw material.

Earlier this month, jute commissioner Subrata Gupta had directed the mills to apply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to get a licence for the manufacture and supply of 580-gram bags with a carrying capacity of 50 kilograms. The sacks weigh 665 gram at present.

The commissioner has also decided to discontinue orders for 665-gram bags from November.

Industry sources estimate that the decision to shift to low-weight bags will decrease the raw jute consumption by more than a lakh metric tonne. At the same time, the move will not compromise on the quality of bags.

Lower jute consumption is likely to result in a savings of around Rs 3.50 to Rs 4 per bag.

Mill owners were concerned over the rising price of raw jute this year because of crop damage in certain districts of Bengal on account of excess rainfall.

"This decision can give relief to the mills as currently the industry is facing an acute shortage of raw jute stock. Such a change-over means the requirement of raw jute will be less. There will be no compromise on the quality as the sacks will be approved by the BIS," said a jute mill owner.

The state agencies, which procure the sacks for mandatory packaging of foodgrains, can also benefit from the lower cost on account of less raw jute used to produce these sacks.

The commissioner in its directive to the jute mills had said the factories would be paid for bags weighing 580 grams even if they continued to supply 665-gram bags beyond November 1.