Tyre-makers, watchout for some arm-jostling action in rubber-shopping coming from most unlikely quarters amidst the latex?s worst shortages.

Dam architects are now readying to join the fray, in getting the best deals in ribbed smoked rubber sheets. Taking a dip in Austrian dam technology, the Kerala government has worked out plans to build a rubber check-dam across the River Pampa. The Andhra Pradesh government is already doing the same on River Janjhavathi, backed by the World Bank.

A team of Austrian civil engineering experts led by Werner Panhauser had visited the proposed site at Aranmula in Pattanamtitta district of Kerala. If the visiting experts can be believed, several Indian states are in the race for the rubber dam knowhow.

Pathanamthitta District Tourism Promotion Council?s (DTPC) cost-estimate, spells just Rs 10 crore investment for the new check-dam. A check dam is a small dam designed to reduce flow velocity and control soil erosion. ?It is tourism that?s out to draw the best mileage out of the rubber check-dam,? Ashok Kumar Singh, Pattanamtitta district collector, told FE. ?It will increase the conduct of the historic Aranmula boat race on Pampa river,? according to him. Since the rubber check-dam can afford the building of make-shift bridges on both sides, transit of people on both sides will be smooth. Once the materials are ready, the speed in which the rubber check-dam can be set up is also phenomenal. It can be put together in just 20 days. The one proposed in Kerala six metres in height and 60 metres in length.

And once set up, the rubber check-dam can be operational within eight hours by pumping water into the thick rubber tube. ?It takes in water, like the bladder on the lines of the radial tyre, takes in air,? V Santosh Kumar, DTPC secretary said.

The DTPC is awaiting the state irrigation ministry’s report on the soil-profile at the river-bend, before going ahead, with what is fondly referred to as the ?detachable? dam.

The environment-friendly potential is adding to the enthusiasm. ?The check-dam could stop the indiscriminate sand-mining on that part of River Pampa,? said Raju Abraham, Pathanamtitta MLA.

Rubber dams are in use in locales in six countries- Naruse (Japan), Vienna (Austria), Vaca (Philipines), Mirani (Australia), San Gabriel (US), Non Wai (Thailand) and Charlo (Canada), but it is the relatively cheapest Vienna technology that has fascinated the Indian dam-planners.

The only rub is going to be in rubber sourcing. The ambitious plans for rubber check-dams are mushrooming across States, just when rubber-sheet stocks have hit their worst low-point.