Lok Sabha Question No. 2026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-22
Subject: Production of Coir Geo textile
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Dhanush M Kumar, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2026

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.09.2020

## PRODUCTION OF COIR GEO TEXTILE

2026.  SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Coir  Geo  textiles  protect  land  surface  from  soil  erosion  and  promote  quick vegetation,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  targets  fixed  by  the  Government  for  the production of Coir Geo textile for the current financial year;
- (b) whether the Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  amount  of  financial  assistance  provided  by  the  Coir  Board  for  the  establishment  and running of the Centre of Excellence;
- (d) the details of areas of research and development the Centre would work to analyze the needs of the coir industry; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government in this regard to encourage coir geo textiles?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI  PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

(a): Yes,  Sir.  Coir  Geotextiles  protect  land  surface  from  soil  erosion  and  promote  quick vegetation. Coir Woven Bhoovastra control soil erosion by acting as a ground cover. It also protects the earth and promotes vegetation retaining precious topsoil.

IIT Madras has also given its recommendations on the application of Coir Geo textiles in Infrastructure Projects. Some of them are as follows:

- i) Coir  geo-textiles  have  superior  erosion  control  capability  for  protection  of  embankment slopes in roads, railways and natural hill slopes.
2. ii) The  application  of  coir  geo-textiles  for  construction  of  rural  roads  is  found  to  be economical of the order of 20% to 30%. In addition, the service life of the rural roads is expected to increase by 70% to 80% by using coir geo-textiles.
3. iii) Combination of coir geo-textiles and coco-logs have high potential for protection of small canal banks.

Specific  targets  have  not  been  fixed  for  the  production  of  coir  geotextiles  for  the  current financial  year.  However,  the  National  Rural  Infrastructural  Development  Agency  (NRIDA)  has issued order dated 23.04.2020 to use Coir Geotextiles (CGT) in the construction of 5% of total rural roads under the PMGSY-III in 7 States (Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha) for a total length of 1674 kms. This will work out to 1,00,44,000 sq. mtrs. of coir geotextiles with an approximate cost of Rs. 80 crores.

(b): Yes, Sir.   Coir Board under Ministry of MSME has signed an MoU with IIT Madras on 27.04.2020  for  establishing  a  Centre  of  Excellence  for  'Application  of  coir  exclusively  or  in combination with other natural fibres'.

(c): The  financial  assistance  provided  by  Coir  Board  for  the  establishment  of  the  Centre  of Excellence  (CoE)  is  Rs.  2.00  crore  towards  the  running  costs  of  CoE  initially  for  a  period  of  2 years.

(d): The  major  focus  area  of  research  and  development  of  the  CoE  will  be  focusing  on  coir geotextiles, its application in infrastructure projects and standardisation and the design standardisation and development of energy efficient machinery for the coir industry.

The following services will be provided by the CoE established at IIT Madras:

- (i) Supporting  the  development  of  coir  products  &  relevant  technology  and  evolving standards for production and processing through specific projects.
- (ii) Identifying, awarding, evaluating and monitoring research projects with approval of Coir Board.
- (iii) Providing necessary assistance in selection of scientific and technical personnel for the Coir  Board  and  their  associated  laboratories  and  such  other  requirements  that  may  be required from time to time.
- (iv) Mentoring of Coir Board's research institutes/laboratories.
- (v) Help  in  capacity  building  by  way  of  organizing  tailor  made  training  programs  and technical seminars/workshops.
- (vi) Assisting in generating the Intellectual Property Rights and technology transfer
- (vii) Such other services that may arise from time to time for the functioning of the Centre of Excellence, with mutual concurrence.

(e): Coir  Board  has  evolved  a  'Master  Plan'  for  the  use  of  Coir  Geotextiles  (CGT)  in  the construction of rural roads in PMGSY III in seven states as per the orders of NRIDA vide letter dated  23.04.2020.  A  Coir  Geotextile  Consultancy  Bureau  (CGCB)  is  constituted  to  provide consultancy support to the industries as well as end users in different States. A Coir Geotextiles (PMGSY) cell  has  been  constituted  at  the  Coir  Board's  Central  Coir  Research  Institute  for  the effective implementation of 'Master Plan' for monitoring the PMGSY-III by assuring the quality supply of coir geotextiles and providing training and other necessary technical support on the use of coir geotextiles in the construction of rural roads.

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