VADODARA, Nov 19: Shri Central Gujarat Co-operative Cotton Marketing Union Limited has urged the Centre to lift restrictions on cotton.In a memorandum submitted to Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana, Union president Sudhakar Patel has stated that the restrictions were hampering the progress of cotton growers.
Patel said in the age of global trade and liberalisation, when the agricultural sector contributed 30 per cent in the gross domestic product and provided employment to 64 per cent population, restrictions on cleaning of standard cotton, ginning, packaging, marketing and sampling were uncalled for. Patel has said if the proposed Cotton (Development and Regulation) Order 1998, was introduced, it would become mandatory to maintain godowns, clean cotton and keep weight bridges as per the instructions issued by the Textile Commissioner. This, he said, was uncalled for, as it would become binding on the market yard, and ginning and processing factories.
Alleging that various acts and provisions made for cotton were being violated knowingly or unknowingly, he pointed out that at a time when there was a need to remove cotton from the Essential Commodities Act 1955, it was unfortunate that the Centre was thinking of imposing more restrictions.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.