Geo-textiles made from jute can be used for various civil engineering projects in the North-eastern Region (NER) said Subrata Gupta, union jute commissioner, Ministry of  Textiles at a recently  held workshop in Nagaland, as per media reports.

Gupta said that jute geo-textiles can be utilised as reinforcing material to stabilise peat and black cotton soil. He further said that jute can be used for projects like inter-alia road construction, slope protection, and water reservoirs in the NER.

The workshop was a part of a scheme to promote usage of geo-textiles in NER, with a budget of Rs 427 crore for five years from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The workshop on application of jute geo-textiles in Nagaland was organised in Kohima by Indian Jute Industries Research Association (IJIRA) under sponsorship of Ministry of Textiles and National Jute Board.

In his speech, Gupta stated many benefits of using jute and mentioned jute geo textiles being used in 65 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) roads and riverbanks.

He also said that Government of India would provide complete reimbursements in terms of finance to NER for using jute geo-textiles in engineering projects. (HO)