Ministry asks data to be filed for a 'cotton balance sheet'

Aims to collect 'statistics on production, consumption and closing stock of cotton for preparation of realistic Cotton Balance Sheet, determining NCDP

In a bid to prepare a realistic ‘cotton balance sheet’, the Union textiles ministry has called for data submission on cotton by independent ginning mills, factories and traders.

In a notification issued on Thursday, the ministry has sought for statistics through monthly returns from independent cotton ginning factories, independent cotton pressing factories, cotton ginning and pressing factories, traders, surgical cotton or cotton wadding manufacturing units and cotton textile mills.

“The units should submit the data in the prescribed format to the regional office of the textile commissioner every 15th of the following month and in turn, the consolidated statement will be forwarded to Ministry by 20th of the month. For independent cotton ginning factory, independent cotton pressing factory and cotton ginning and pressing factories will submit the returns showing total quantity of cotton ginned/total number of bales pressed during the month from the commencement of the cotton season to the end of that month, and the approximate average net weight of the bales pressed in that month," the ministry stated in the notification.

According to the ministry, the purpose is to collect "statistics on production, consumption and closing stock of cotton for preparation of a realistic Cotton Balance Sheet and determining the National Cotton Distribution Policy".

In case of traders, the returns will have to show the total quantity of cotton traded (exports and imports) during the month and from the commencement of the cotton season to the end of that month as well as the total stock of cotton in the possession of traders, at the end of the month.

What’s more, the independent mills and factories are also supposed to register themselves with the regional office of the textile commissioner.

“Before submitting the data in the prescribed format, all the independent cotton ginning factories, independent cotton pressing factories, cotton ginning and pressing factories, traders, surgical cotton or cotton wadding manufacturing units and cotton textile mills are required to register themselves with the regional office of the textile commissioner and obtain the registration number," the notification stated.