NITK, National Jute Board inked MoU to develop geo-cell products

NITK, National Jute Board inked agreement to develop geo-cell products

The National Institute of Technology Karnataka, (NITK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Jute Board (NJB) under the Union Ministry of Textiles to develop and standardise geo-cell products made from jute.

According to a statement, commercially available polymer-based geo-cells are expensive and difficult to get in rural and small-town locations. As a result, it is critical to develop an eco-friendly, cost-effective cellular confinement solution that meets engineering strength criteria.

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Jute is a natural substance that is abundant in India. The Ganges Delta is home to over 85 percent of the world’s jute crop. According to the statement, it is past time for India to investigate its multiple uses and broaden its utilisation in the form of various items.

This work has been handed to NITK as a 48 lakh research project with Sreevalsa Kolathayar as the Principle Investigator, Raviraj HM and Somasekhara Rao T as Co-principal Investigators.

Organizations involved

This project is a collaboration between the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE), the Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM), and the Kerala Highway Research Institute (KHRI). The industry partner is Birla Jute Mill (a division of Birla Company Ltd).

The Union Ministry of Textiles has entrusted NJB with the implementation of numerous actions and programmes to modernise, technologically update, enhance productivity, generate diverse jute products, and develop human resources for the jute sector.

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Kolathayar stated that widespread use of jute for infrastructure projects would pave the path for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG-11 (Climate Change) (Sustainable Cities and Communities).