Kerala wants defence ministry to buy coir geotextiles
December 14, 2011 - India
The Kerala government proposes to ask the defence ministry to buy coir geotextiles produced in the government and the cooperative sectors in the state.
'We will approach the defence ministry to buy geotextiles from the state government organisations and also cooperative societies that produce this material which is used for making roads and preventing soil erosion,' Coir Minister Adoor Prakash told reporters here.
Rani George, special secretary, department of coir, pointed out that currently the defence ministry sourced all their requirements of coir geotextiles through the Coir Board, a government of India organisation.
'Currently the rule is that all defence procurement is based on certain guidelines and hence we cannot directly supply to them,' she said.
Coir geotextile is knitted fibre, either woven or non-woven, taken out of coconut husks and used for various geotechnical, civil engineering and soil conservation applications.
It is used extensively in developed countries to check soil erosion, reinforce hill slopes, landscaping, reinforce asphalt surfaces of roads or as a separating layer in road construction and water reservoirs.
Over the years the export of coir products from Kerala has been growing. Last fiscal, the total exports were worth Rs.807 crore and this year it is expected to touch Rs.1,000 crore.
But export of coir geotextiles has not picked up. Export of coir geotextiles grew from Rs.15.91 crore in 2008-09 to Rs.20.24 crore in 2009-10.
A state government official told IANS that the government undertakings and the cooperative sectors which produce coir geotextiles fail to get good orders from foreign countries because they could not give fake invoices.
'The importers of our geotextiles have to pay a tax of 52 per cent on the invoice value. Since we submit the correct amount we fail to get good orders from abroad,' said the official, who did not wish to be identified. And it was here where the private players make merry.
George said the state government had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia. 'Also, we expect orders from South Africa.'
The state government has now included coir geotextiles in the manual of the public works department so that these can be used extensively in road projects.
'We have by now been able to use geotextiles in laying roads in more than 500 village councils in the state. We now expect to use this in more roads,' said Prakash.
Prakash also said the second International Coir Meet will be held at Alappuzha from Feb 4 to 9.
'Around 100 international buyers from abroad and 200 from the country have confirmed their participation. All our coir products would be on display at the meet,' he added.
'We will approach the defence ministry to buy geotextiles from the state government organisations and also cooperative societies that produce this material which is used for making roads and preventing soil erosion,' Coir Minister Adoor Prakash told reporters here.
Rani George, special secretary, department of coir, pointed out that currently the defence ministry sourced all their requirements of coir geotextiles through the Coir Board, a government of India organisation.
'Currently the rule is that all defence procurement is based on certain guidelines and hence we cannot directly supply to them,' she said.
Coir geotextile is knitted fibre, either woven or non-woven, taken out of coconut husks and used for various geotechnical, civil engineering and soil conservation applications.
It is used extensively in developed countries to check soil erosion, reinforce hill slopes, landscaping, reinforce asphalt surfaces of roads or as a separating layer in road construction and water reservoirs.
Over the years the export of coir products from Kerala has been growing. Last fiscal, the total exports were worth Rs.807 crore and this year it is expected to touch Rs.1,000 crore.
But export of coir geotextiles has not picked up. Export of coir geotextiles grew from Rs.15.91 crore in 2008-09 to Rs.20.24 crore in 2009-10.
A state government official told IANS that the government undertakings and the cooperative sectors which produce coir geotextiles fail to get good orders from foreign countries because they could not give fake invoices.
'The importers of our geotextiles have to pay a tax of 52 per cent on the invoice value. Since we submit the correct amount we fail to get good orders from abroad,' said the official, who did not wish to be identified. And it was here where the private players make merry.
George said the state government had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia. 'Also, we expect orders from South Africa.'
The state government has now included coir geotextiles in the manual of the public works department so that these can be used extensively in road projects.
'We have by now been able to use geotextiles in laying roads in more than 500 village councils in the state. We now expect to use this in more roads,' said Prakash.
Prakash also said the second International Coir Meet will be held at Alappuzha from Feb 4 to 9.
'Around 100 international buyers from abroad and 200 from the country have confirmed their participation. All our coir products would be on display at the meet,' he added.