The Hindu Business Line : CCEA nod for mandatory use of jute in packaging

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday gave its approval for 100 per cent compulsory packaging for foodgrains and sugar in jute bags for the Jute Year 2006-07 (July-June).

Briefing newspersons after a meeting of the CCEA here, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, said the CCEA did not accept the recommendations of the Standing Committee in this regard and decided to continue with last year's policy.

"This is good news for Eastern India as it will help provide sustenance to millions of people engaged in the Jute Sector. The CCEA's decision is also in fulfilment of the pronouncements made in the Common Minimum Programme," Mr Dasmunsi said.

It may be recalled that in July 2005, the Government decided to restore 100 per cent packaging reservation for jute for foodgrains and sugar, and the same had come into effect from August 1, 2005.

Nod for coal project

The CCEA has also sanctioned Magadh Opencast Project of Central Coalfields Ltd in Jharkhand, for a coal production capacity of 12 million tonnes per year at a capital investment of Rs 469.78 crore for implementation through capital outsourcing of both coal production and over burden removal. It has also cleared floating and approval of tenders for 20 million tonnes coal capacity for implementation through outsourcing of both coal production and overburden removal under the Emergency Coal Production Plan (CPP). Grade F quality of coal would be produced and supplied to the North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Station, the Minister said.

Other proposals

Other proposals approved on Thursday include supporting one-time contribution of Rs 65 crore to the initial Rs 200-crore corpus of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). The PHFI aims to improve the public health human resource capacity and advocacy by strengthening education in public health, setting standards in public health education and strengthening Research and Policy in Public Health. Education in public health is sought to be strengthened by building new world-class institutions in the country, strengthening the existing institutions both within the Government and outside, and creating a critical mass of high quality faculty in the field.

The proposal also entails improving quality of public health education by clearly defining the academic standards in this area. Mr Dasmunsi said the rest of the fund was being generated from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Rs 65 crore) and about Rs 80-90 crore from an assortment of high net worth Indians from all over the world.

In another decision, the CCEA gave its approval for changes in the restructured scheme for development and strengthening of infrastructure facilities for production and distribution of quality seeds. The Cabinet also referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) a legislation to enable foreign universities to set up campuses in India.

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