Plastic anti-erosion technology to be implemented in Assam

GUWAHATI: A proposal to implement an indigenously developed cost effective anti-erosion technology using plastic nets has been accepted by Assam's water resources ministry.

The technology was developed under the guidance of Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and a pilot project was carried out in 2007-10 under the sponsorship of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI), an NGO involved in the implementation said.

The technology relies on the use of plastic nets tied to concrete blocks fitted into the soil near river banks to check erosion, Polygon Foundation General Secretary D Hazarika told reporters here.

"We had proposed to use the technology for anti-erosion measures in some of Brahmaputra's tributaries like Jiyabharali and Dhanshiri. The state water resources ministry has given its green signal and we will start work on finalising details within April," he said.

A pilot project was carried out in Dikrong river in Dhemaji district in 2007-10 under a Rs 35 lakh sponsorship of NEDFI. Around 300 metres of land was used for it and those areas remained free of any effect of erosion, he said.

The civil engineering department of IIT, Guwahati, extended its expertise during the pilot study.

"We also plan to use recycled plastic for making nets for the project. Besides, the technology is cost effective and the expenditure required is less than Rs 15 lakh for 100 metre of riverbank as against Rs 70-80 lakh for conventional methods," Hazarika added.