In a letter to the PM, which was released to the press on Wednesday, Basu said it was an ''extremely disturbing development'' as the decision would affect the interest of jute growers and affect production of jute.

''This decision seems to have been largely influenced by the operational economics of the purchase centres. However, for an organisation like JCI which is designed to provide support to jute farmers and to sustain jute production, the interest of farmers should be reckoned as an overriding consideration," the letter said.

Basu urged Vajpayee to see that the JCI purchase centre continued operation to protect the interest of jute farmers.