The Kerala State Coir Corporation (KSCC) will supply coir geotextiles to mines in Odisha. It recently received an order for geotextiles from Geetarani Mohanty Raikela Iron Ore Mines.
Officials said the mining firm had expressed its intention to strengthen sidewalls and other areas of its over 100-acre mine using geotextiles. It placed the initial order worth ₹10 lakh for initiating a pilot project. Industries and Coir Minister P. Rajeeve received the first order for geotextiles from the Odisha firm’s managing partner Jayakrishnan at a function held at Kanichukulangara, near Cherthala, on Tuesday.
The coir corporation is making all-out efforts to increase the sale of coir geotextiles in the domestic market. This highly durable natural fabric is said to be resistant to rots, moulds and moisture and free from microbial attack. Officials of the KSCC said that they would hold talks with owners of other mines in Odisha, and expressed confidence in striking more deals to supply geotextiles.
The State is pinning its hopes, in part, on coir geotextiles to revive the crisis-ridden coir sector. Demand from mines is likely to increase the market potential for the product. Rising demand for geotextiles will boost coir production.
Coirfed meeting
Meanwhile, the annual general body meeting of Coirfed, the apex federation of primary coir cooperatives in the State, held on Tuesday urged the Centre to clear dues of ₹53 crore under the Market Development Assistance scheme. The meeting decided to create more job opportunities in the sector. Representatives of cooperatives said that a surge in the price of coir fibre was hurting the industry.
Speaking at a public meeting in connection with the anniversary of Coirfed, Mr. Rajeeve said the government was trying to overhaul the coir industry with the aim of equipping it to create products in line with market trends. He said that workers would be trained for manufacturing market-oriented products, for which a ₹1-crore project had been prepared.
