A new German Geotextiles technology would be put to use to repair and develop parts of National and State Highways in India that are vulnerable to sinking and landslide.

This was revealed during a seminar on Geotextiles and Agro-textiles held in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state, under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, the Manipur state government and the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Geotextiles is a very recent technology, which is based on synthetic polymer. It is relatively more resistant to landslide and soil erosion.

A team of German consultants would be arriving in Imphal on July 12 to make field assessment of the various sections of roads in Manipur and identify the portions where the Geotextiles project would be implemented, Mr. Ram Muivah, Principal Secretary (Works) and nodal officer for Geotextiles project in Manipur, informed the gathering.

The Government of India has already released Rs. 5 billion to the Ministry of Textiles for the commencement of pilot Geotextiles project.

Surjit Gulati, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, said the new German technology would be used in the North East region to construct walls along hill slopes, to make roads and to protect river banks.

Mr. Ram Muivah said sinking road surfaces and landslides on Mao-Maram section of NH2 continue to be a major problem for the Border Roads Organization (BRO) even after the area being under them for the past 32 years.

He informed that field inspections were carried out on Mao-Maram section as well as on the Ukhrul town road earlier this month.