A total 475 works using coir geotextile have been identified in 71 grama panchayats in the district at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore under the joint auspices of the Poverty Alleviation Unit here, Coir Development Department and various local bodies.
The major works involving the use of coir geotextiles in the district include protection of side walls of water resources such as ponds and streams and other water bodies, strengthening of geotextile laid areas by planting grass for soil and water conservation activities.
As many as 64 panchayats have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for carrying out the works that would cover 8,81,602 sq.metre area. The MoU was signed with the Coirfed at the Coir Kerala International Trade Fair at Alappuzha two months ago.
As many as 23 panchayats have already placed work orders for covering 17,763 sq. metres.
The district-level inauguration of the soil and water conservation works using the coir geotextile was done by Ports Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally on December 11 by kicking off the commencement of works for constructing bunds to check salinity intrusion at the Muttil and Pallikkara areas in the Cherukunnu panchayat as part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
“A total 328 unskilled work days are estimated for the works in the Muttil-Pallikkara Scheduled Caste colony in the first phase of the works planned by the Cherukunnu panchayat,” said PAU Project Director K.M. Ramakishnan.
The panchayat has signed MoU for works using coir geo-textile in 2017-18, he said adding that the total estimated cost of the entire works is ₹16.77 lakh.
The Muttil-Pallilkkara area had been experiencing salinity intrusion which is causing problem for farmers in the area earmarked for collective farming. The construction of bunds using the geotextile is expected to revive paddy cultivation in the area.