The Hindu Business Line : Plan to use jute geo-textiles to lay roads in rural areas

According to industry sources, the Jute Manufacturers' Development Corporation (JMDC) has already initiated a dialogue with the Union Ministry of Rural Development for introducing jute geo-textiles in rural road infrastructure.

Talking to Business Line, Mr Arun Bal, Secretary of JMDC, said the Union Ministry had already accepted in principle the usage of jute geo-textiles for rural roads. Trial projects had already been identified.

``We will now have to work out the specifications of these geo-textiles before using them on a commercial basis. If jute geo-textiles are being used regularly, it would be a major boom for the jute industry,'' Mr Bal said.

A meeting would soon be convened for the purpose. Representatives from the National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) and Indian Jute Industries Research Institute (IJIRA) would be present.

The Union Government has worked out an ambitious Rs 60,000 crore project for the development of rural roads. The jute industry was eyeing a five per cent share of this project for jute geo-textiles.

Already, 10 trial projects had been identified. These are located in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and West Bengal. Central bodies such as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) have agreed to use jute geo-textiles.

Meanwhile, production of jute geo-textiles have increased manifold. In 2002-03, total production was four lakh sq m. In the current financial year, till August, production had already touched the 15-lakh sq m mark.

``It is nothing compared to the potential of this product. Mills are also showing keen interest in producing jute geo-textiles. Moreover, no sophisticated technology is needed for manufacturing this item,'' Mr Bal said.

The global market for geo-textiles (mostly synthetic geo-textiles) is over 40 million sq m. The world over there is a demand for a natural geo-textiles and jute would be an ideal product. JMDC has in fact targeted five per cent of this market during the next few years.

However, for exporting jute geo-textiles to the European countries and the US, Indian players will have to get their products certified by some designated authority. JMDC is trying to work out the nitty-gritty of this process.

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