Kolkata, Jun 20 (IANS): Jute millers on Wednesday hailed the Centre's decision to impose anti-dumping duty on the import of jute sacking cloths from Bangladesh, which will have a "positive" impact on the industry.

"We had anti-dumping duty on jute bags. But importers continued to source jute cloth and making bags in India. Now, duty is imposed on cloth which will be very positive for the industry," Indian Jute Mills Association's Chairman Manish Poddar said.

India has imposed anti-dumping duty on the import of jute sacking cloths from Bangladesh from June 18.

The ailing industry claimed jute sacking cloth has been imported from Bangladesh in "increasing quantities" after obtaining export cash subsidy from Bangladesh following the imposition of the anti-dumping duties on jute sacking bags, hessian cloth and jute yarn effective from January, 2017.

"The industry has been seeking the anti-dumping duty on sacking cloth from Bangladesh to save the Indian jute sector. With active efforts of Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani, this has been achieved," the IJMA's past Chairman Sanjay Kajaria said.

"It will be applicable for 5 years effective from June 18, 2019," he said, adding that the move would aid jute farmers and millers in India, who are either ailing or running operations at a low capacity.

The notification showed anti-dumping duty imposed between USD 125.21 and 138.97 per tonne.