INDORE: A rare rock formation at Kavadia Pahad
in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh which is said to be between 61 to
69 million year old is reportedly being destroyed. It was formed during a
volcanic eruption on Deccan plateau. This has been studied by paleontologist Vishal Verma, who shot to fame after the discovery of dinosaur fossils in Dhar district.
"The hexagonal rock formation was formed after the cooling of volcanic lava," said Verma adding that the cracks developed during the cooling process. He said it is monolithic rock (single rock) and creates a metallic sound if hammered. "It is useful for the study of the reproduction of sound," Verma stated reiterating that it is a precious rock formation which needs to be conserved.
However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seems to be a mute spectator to the destruction of rock.
The ASI official has washed off his hands saying that the rock formation site is not a protected one and it does not come under his jurisdiction. Superintendent archaeologist (ASI), Dr V K Saxena advocated that the local administration should first stop its destruction and the state government should sent a proposal for its conservation to the ASI. After which a gazette notification will be issued for its conservation.
Need of an immediate conservation of the site can be understood from the fact that rock formation is very rare and till now it has been found only at two places in world. First in Northern Ireland—which is now World Heritage Site and second is the Dewas forest.
In the absence of a proper conservation plan for this rare rock formation it is being destroyed over the period of time. Of late some of the finest interlocking basalt columns are being broken and used for constructing steps to climb the mountain range (can be seen in photograph).
Girdhar Gupta, who has been working for the conservation of the site for the past several years, said he has raised the issue of conservation of these structures with several government officials since last two decades, but there has been no encouraging response from any quarters. Some of the senior government officials have visited the place but nothing has been done for its conservation yet. He fears that if the site is continued to be ignored, the rare rock formation would cease to exist.
The site comes under the forest area and forest officials claimed to have been taking steps for the conservation of the place. The district forest officer (DFO) Vibhash Thakur said some of the rock formations got weathered down with time. He denied that it is being broken by humans and termed it a natural process.
For the conservation of the rock site, he said department is going to invite ASI to inspect the place and give their suggestions to forest department.
Bird watcher Ajay Gadikar, who identified this rare rock formation claimed that he had carried out an extensive research and found that it is only in the Northern Ireland where a similar formation of rocks exist and is named Giant's Causeway. "The Giant's Causeway is located in Country Antrim on the northeast cost of Northern Ireland. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986," said Gadikar adding that in Northern Ireland most of the columns are hexagonal although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides.
"The hexagonal rock formation was formed after the cooling of volcanic lava," said Verma adding that the cracks developed during the cooling process. He said it is monolithic rock (single rock) and creates a metallic sound if hammered. "It is useful for the study of the reproduction of sound," Verma stated reiterating that it is a precious rock formation which needs to be conserved.
However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seems to be a mute spectator to the destruction of rock.
The ASI official has washed off his hands saying that the rock formation site is not a protected one and it does not come under his jurisdiction. Superintendent archaeologist (ASI), Dr V K Saxena advocated that the local administration should first stop its destruction and the state government should sent a proposal for its conservation to the ASI. After which a gazette notification will be issued for its conservation.
Need of an immediate conservation of the site can be understood from the fact that rock formation is very rare and till now it has been found only at two places in world. First in Northern Ireland—which is now World Heritage Site and second is the Dewas forest.
In the absence of a proper conservation plan for this rare rock formation it is being destroyed over the period of time. Of late some of the finest interlocking basalt columns are being broken and used for constructing steps to climb the mountain range (can be seen in photograph).
Girdhar Gupta, who has been working for the conservation of the site for the past several years, said he has raised the issue of conservation of these structures with several government officials since last two decades, but there has been no encouraging response from any quarters. Some of the senior government officials have visited the place but nothing has been done for its conservation yet. He fears that if the site is continued to be ignored, the rare rock formation would cease to exist.
The site comes under the forest area and forest officials claimed to have been taking steps for the conservation of the place. The district forest officer (DFO) Vibhash Thakur said some of the rock formations got weathered down with time. He denied that it is being broken by humans and termed it a natural process.
For the conservation of the rock site, he said department is going to invite ASI to inspect the place and give their suggestions to forest department.
Bird watcher Ajay Gadikar, who identified this rare rock formation claimed that he had carried out an extensive research and found that it is only in the Northern Ireland where a similar formation of rocks exist and is named Giant's Causeway. "The Giant's Causeway is located in Country Antrim on the northeast cost of Northern Ireland. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986," said Gadikar adding that in Northern Ireland most of the columns are hexagonal although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides.
Interlocked basalt rocks from top at the Kavadia Pahaad.jpg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
one shown on Google in Armenia also, but much thinner forms, also hexagonal.
ReplyDelete