TheNational Institute of Technology Karnataka(NITK) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with theNational Jute Board(NJB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, to develop technology to make Geo-Cell products from jute and standardize them for variousengineering applications.
The commercially available polymer-based geo-cells are costly and not readily available in rural areas and small towns. This navigates towards inventing an eco- friendly, cost-effective cellular confinement product that satisfies engineering strength requirements. Jute is a natural material that is plentifully available in India.
Almost 85% of the world’s jute cultivation is concentrated in the Ganges Delta. It is high time that India explores its diverse applications and widens its usage in the form of different products. The project by NITK, Surathkal, proposes a very affordable and eco-friendly method of ground improvement using jute in the form of cells.