Jute Advisory Board reconstituted on May 14 for 2 yrs

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that the Jute Advisory Board has been reconstituted on May 14 this year for a period of two years.

The Minister further informed the House that at present, the Jute Advisory Board has two government official members from non-jute growing states, eight government official members from jute growing states, 10 non-official members from jute growing states and 11 non-official members from non-jute growing states.

Thus, out of the total 31 members of the Board, 18 are from jute growing states.

In reply to another question, the Minister said on the recommendation of the Working Group constituted by the Planning Commission for the 11th Five Year Plan on Textile and Jute industry, the government has proposed a scheme for the development and growth of technical textiles which is in the process of being approved the competent authority.

The Technical Textiles industry is also covered under the centrally-sponsored financial assistance schemes like Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) and Scheme for Integrated Textiles Park (SITP).

The progress of technical textiles segment under TUFS from April 1, 1999 to February 28 this year and during the period 62 applications were received having a project cost of Rs 919.25 crore and the amount of loan required was Rs 418.59 crore.

Of these, only 60 applications were sanctioned with project cost of Rs 897.23 crore and amount required was Rs 356.58 crore.

The loan amounting to Rs 90.17 crore was disbursed to 55 applicants, Mr Elangovan added.

UNI