Preserving India’s Geological Heritage

Source-This post on Preserving India’s Geological Heritage has been created based on the article “Read the rocks to improve India’s geological literacy” published in “The Hindu” on 27 June 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-1– Salient features of Physical Geography.

Context-India’s landscapes span from the highest peaks to coastal plains, showcasing a diverse morphology shaped over billions of years. Various locations feature a range of rocks, minerals, and unique fossil collections, revealing scientific “origin” stories derived from geological interpretations rather than mythology.

The article highlights that unlike the well-established protections for archaeological, historical monuments, and cultural heritage sites, India lacks specific laws or policies dedicated to conserving and preserving geo heritage sites and geo-relics for future generations.

What is the significance of preserving Geo-heritage Sites?

1) Geo-heritage sites serve as educational spaces for geological literacy.

2) They help preserve representative examples of India’s geological features and events.

3) These sites allow present and future generations to appreciate natural geological laboratories

4) They provide insights into the evolution of Indian terrain.

Read more- Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India

What are the difficulties in preserving geological sites in India?

1) Limited Traction and Awareness-Geo-conservation in India lags global efforts. Further, there is a widespread lack of awareness concerning important geological sites. For ex- the Dhala meteoritic impact crater in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, believed to have formed between 1.5 to 2.5 billion years ago, and the Lonar crater in Maharashtra, recently re-dated to approximately 576,000 years old, highlight geological history that remains relatively unknown.

2) Impact of Development and Mining -Many fossil-bearing sites have been destroyed due to development and real estate growth. This is further compounded by extensive stone mining activities in India.

3) Lack of Specific Legislation– Countries such as Canada and China have designated national parks for their geo-heritage sites, guided by UNESCO’s recommendations, and have enacted laws to protect and designate these areas. Despite being a signatory, India lacks specific legislation or policies for conserving its geo-heritage.

4) Lack of Adequate Power-The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified 34 geological sites but lacks the authority to enforce preservation measures. For ex-in  Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, overlooking the Arabian Sea, composed of ancient rocks identified by GSI as a geological heritage site was partially demolished by the district administration due to landslide risks.

5) Half-hearted Measures by the Government– The government withdrew the attempt to establish a National Commission for Heritage Sites, originally introduced in the Rajya Sabha, for unspecified reasons. Similarly, in 2022, the Ministry of Mines drafted a bill aimed at preserving and maintaining geo-heritage sites and geo-relics, but no further steps have been taken since then.

What should be the way forward?

1) India’s turbulent geological history is documented in its rocks and landscapes and should be regarded as part of our non-cultural heritage.

2) There should be compilation of list of all potential geo-sites across India, beyond the 34 already identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

3) There is a need to develop legislation for geo-conservation modeled after the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.

4)The government should create a ‘National Geo-Conservation Authority’ similar to the National Biodiversity Authority, ensuring independent oversight to avoid bureaucratic delays and safeguard the autonomy of researchers and private collectors engaged in academic endeavors.

Question for practice

What challenges exist in conserving geological sites in India? What steps should be taken to move forward?