Mining in the Himalayan hills in India has resulted in severe soil erosion, 550 ton/ha. A limestone mined watershed, 64 ha, was selected and treated with soil and water conservation measures for slope protection and channel stabilization. Geojute and synthetic geotextiles were used for establishment of vegetation on degraded and steep mine spoil slopes. Geojute showed better performance in establishment of a vegetative cover as compared to synthetic geotextiles. The cost of Geojute could be further reduced by suitably modifying the mesh opening ratio. Conservation measures coupled with geojute, reduced soil erosion to 8 t/ha, near permissible limits and water, plant and soil resources improved.
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