The Indian Road Congress has accepted jute as geo-textile for using in building of roads which could be a major boost to the West Bengal's jute industry that employs lakhs of workers.
"The Indian Road Congress (IRC) has identified a few types of jute based geo-textiles and notification in this regard is expected soon," Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Textiles, Subrata Gupta said here today on the sidelines of Textiles India 2017 roadshow.
"Now with the IRC acceptance it will be very easy to push the material in road construction," he said.
For the past seven years the industry worked hard in pursuing different states to use jute as geo-textile in construction of roads.
"But without any recognition, many states did not use it. This recognition will solve the problem and act as a major boost for the jute industry as the product has better margin," Gupta said.
Currently, three jute varieties are being used as geo-textile in construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojana (PMGSY).
As of now, 65 roads have been constructed using jute under PMGSY of which 453 km are in Bengal.
"Now polyester is used as geo-textile in road building. The recognition from the Indian Road Congress will help us in pushing jute as geo-textile in the international market as well. There is a huge market in countries like the US and Japan," Gupta said.
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