Already plagued with different charges of irregularities and diversion in government supply of jute bags to market, the jute industry is now confronted with a fresh set of problems of missing bales of jute sacks. On requests from the Jute Commissioner’s office, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the matter.
At present, 10 jute mill owners and their 13 jute mills in West Bengal are under CBI scanner that is trying to trace the roots to 260 bales of missing jute bags valued at around Rs 70 lakhs. The bags were meant for government supply during the ongoing Kharif season. The Jute Commissioner’s office is assisting CBI in identifying the mill and the mill-owner.
The mills include Hukumchand, Bowreah and Vijayshree Jute, Angus and Shamnugger Jute, Gondolpara Jute, Auckland Jute, Premchand Jute and Ludlow Jute Mills.
A few days ago, these 13 jute mills had loaded 42 wagons of 1,040 bales of jute bags valued at around Rs 2.8 crore for supply to PUNGRAIN and PUNSUP of Punjab at different points at Sirhind, Firozpur and Sangrur. PUNGRAIN and PUNSUP are the food procuring and food supply agencies of the Punjab government. They are the biggest consumers of jute bags along with Haryana and Chattisgarh.
On preliminary investigation it was found that before reaching Punjab, as many as eight wagons were unloaded midway at Shahbad Markanda in Haryana. It is to yet be ascertained by the CBI under whose instructions these wagons were unloaded and perpetrators involved in the act. Therefore, all 13 jute mills are being investigated if they had a role to play in it. It is because in present and earlier times jute mills were accused of diverting jute bags meant for supply to the markets to sell at a higher premium. In some cases old and reused bags are also supplied to the government.
The CBI has also placed its focus on railway officials and state food procuring officers of Punjab and Haryana. Jute Commissioner’s office has already initiated proceedings against a few mills of the state for price manipulation and reusing of old and cheap quality jute bags.
In a recent confidential discussion with a senior leader of the ruling state TMC, Jute Commissioner Subrata Gupta had admitted to focussing his attention on a few jute industrialists who are allegedly trying to cheat the government. He has registered cases against these jute mill owners forcing them to move court.