Jute geotextiles are generally 25 per cent cheaper than other fabrics. They are also biodegradable. However, being biodegradable, it is low on longevity and is best used in rural or arterial roads, which do not attract heavy traffic. Geotextiles are permeable fabrics used as an agent to strengthen the road foundations and prevent soil erosion along the banks.
According to the National Jute Board (NJB), jute-based textiles are currently in use in constructing 35 ongoing rural roads, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, across the country. While majority of the projects are in Karnataka; the practice is gaining popularity in at least three other states, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
Use of jute geotextiles is likely to move up substantially in the next two years. Project reports for nine roads spread across five states such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal have also been prepared. Rough estimates available with NJB suggest that consumption of the fabric moved up by 10 per cent a year on an average since 2010. In 2010, approximately 60 lakh square metre of jute geotextile was used in road development, a top official of the cell added.
Of the 80 odd jute mills operating across the country, 13 mills manufacture jute geotextile. Despite efforts to promote the natural fibre, absence of a regulation for mandatory use of jute instead synthetic textiles and lack of support from local administration pose challenges before the industry.