Read the Rocks to Improve India’s Geological Literacy (GS Paper 1, Geography)
Context
- India’s collective regard for its extensive geo-heritage is abysmal, despite its rich geological features and potential for education and conservation.
India’s Geological Features
- India boasts a diverse morphology, ranging from the world's highest peaks to low-lying coastal plains, showcasing landscapes that have evolved over billions of years.
- The country is home to a variety of rocks, minerals, and distinctive fossil assemblages. These geological features narrate India's spectacular 'origin' stories through scientific interpretations rather than mythology.
- India's tumultuous geological past, recorded in its rocks and terrains, should be considered part of its non-cultural heritage.
- Geo-heritage sites serve as educational spaces where people can gain much-needed geological literacy, a crucial aspect often overlooked in India.
Scant Traction in India
- Geological conservation aims to ensure the survival of India’s best geological features and events, allowing current and future generations to appreciate some of the world’s finest natural laboratories.
- Despite global progress in this field, geo-conservation has not gained significant traction in India.
- Many fossil-bearing sites have been destroyed due to development and real estate growth, and destructive stone mining activities exacerbate this issue.
- The magnitude of these activities is highlighted by the fact that stone-mining operations cover more than 10% of India's total area.
- Ironically, while efforts are made to explore Mars for early life evidence, similar precious evidence on Earth is being destroyed.
- For example, the little-known Dhala meteoritic impact crater in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, is between 1.5 billion to 2.5 billion years old and evidences a celestial collision from when life may have begun.
- Similarly, the Lonar crater in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, previously dated at about 50,000 years old, is now suggested to be around 576,000 years old.
- The importance of shared geological heritage was first recognized in 1991 at a UNESCO-sponsored event, which foresaw the establishment of geo-parks to commemorate unique geological features and educate the public on their significance.
Lack of Legislation in India
- Unlike countries such as Canada, China, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which have developed geo-heritage sites into national parks, India lacks specific legislation or policy for geo-heritage conservation.
- The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has notified 34 geological monuments but lacks the regulatory powers to enforce preservation measures.
- A recent example is the Varkala cliff in Kerala, which overlooks the Arabian Sea and is composed of rocks deposited millions of years ago.
- Despite being declared a geological heritage site by GSI, it faces challenges in preservation.
Half-hearted Measures
- The Government of India has made some attempts to address these concerns. In 2009, a National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill was introduced but eventually withdrawn.
- More recently, in 2022, the Ministry of Mines prepared a draft Bill for preservation and maintenance, but no further progress has been reported.
- The annexure to the Draft Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022, highlights the lack of specific legislation for conserving geo-heritage sites compared to the well-established measures for archaeological and historical monuments.
Way Forward
India needs to take the following steps urgently:
- Create an Inventory: Compile an inventory of all prospective geo-sites in the country.
- Frame Geo-conservation Legislation: Develop geo-conservation legislation similar to the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
- Establish a National Geo-Conservation Authority: Form a ‘National Geo-Conservation Authority’ akin to the National Biodiversity Authority, ensuring it includes independent observers and does not lead to bureaucratic red tape, thereby preserving the autonomy of researchers and private collectors.
Conclusion
- By taking these steps, India can significantly improve its geological literacy and conservation efforts, preserving its rich geo-heritage for future generations.
