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India’s Geological Heritage: Importance and Current Status
Context:
The Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022 has brought attention to the need for a specific policy or law to conserve and preserve geo-heritage sites and geo-relics in India.
More in News:
- The Ministry of Mines’ efforts to draft this Bill signify a step towards addressing geo-conservation, although further progress is awaited.
- Increasing awareness about the importance of geological heritage and its threats is crucial to garnering public support and ensuring effective conservation measures.
Diverse Morphology and Geological Significance:
- Landscape Diversity: India showcases a diverse morphology, ranging from the world’s greatest peaks to low-lying coastal plains, evolved over billions of years.
- Geological features and landscapes across India reveal ‘origin’ stories through scientific interpretations, forming part of India’s non-cultural heritage.
- Example: Various rocks, minerals, and distinctive fossil assemblages across India provide insights into Earth’s geological past, forming part of India’s non-cultural heritage.
Educational Value of Geo-Heritage Sites:
- Geo-heritage sites offer educational spaces for geological literacy, crucial given India’s low regard for its geological legacy.
- These sites help people understand the evolution and history of the land they inhabit, emphasising the importance of preserving such knowledge.
- Notable sites include the Dhala meteoritic impact crater in Madhya Pradesh, which is between 1.5 billion to 2.5 billion years old, and the Lonar crater in Maharashtra, which recent studies suggest originated around 576,000 years ago.
Current State of Geo-Conservation in India:
- Lack of Traction: Despite international progress, geo-conservation has not gained traction in India.
- Destruction of Sites: Many fossil-bearing sites have been destroyed due to development and real estate growth. Destructive stone mining operations cover over 10% of India’s total area.
- Irony in Approach: While India invests in space missions to discover evidence of early life on Mars, it neglects and destroys similar evidence present within its borders.
International Recognition and Initiatives:
- UNESCO Recognition: The concept of shared geological heritage was recognised in 1991 at a UNESCO event in France. Delegates endorsed the idea that humans and the Earth share a common heritage.
- Global Efforts: Countries like Canada, China, Spain, the USA, and the UK have developed geo-heritage sites as national parks. There are currently 169 Global Geoparks across 44 countries.
- Lessons from Abroad: Countries like Thailand and Vietnam have laws for geological conservation. Europe celebrates its geological heritage across 73 zones, and Japan offers a good lesson in conservation.
Government Efforts and Legislative Gaps in India:
- Biological Diversity Act: India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002) protects biodiversity through 18 biosphere reserves.
- GSI’s Role: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has notified 34 geological monuments but lacks regulatory powers for preservation. An example of threats to geo-heritage is the Varkala cliff in Kerala, partially demolished by local authorities citing landslide hazards, despite its geological significance.
- Half-hearted Measures: A 2009 attempt to create a National Commission for Heritage Sites was withdrawn after initial steps. More recently, in 2022, the Ministry of Mines drafted a Bill for geo-heritage preservation, but progress has stalled.
Recommendations for Effective Geo-Conservation:
Create an Inventory of Geo-Sites:
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- Document all prospective geo-sites in India, in addition to the 34 identified by the GSI.
- This inventory will help in identifying and prioritising sites for conservation.
- Frame Geo-Conservation Legislation:
- Develop laws similar to the Biological Diversity Act 2002 for geo-conservation.
- Such legislation will provide a legal framework for the protection and management of geo-heritage sites.
- Establish a National Geo-Conservation Authority:
- Form an authority similar to the National Biodiversity Authority, ensuring it does not lead to bureaucratic hurdles or encroach on researchers’ autonomy.
- The authority will oversee the implementation of geo-conservation measures and ensure the protection of geological sites.
- Promote Public Awareness and Education:
- Increase efforts to educate the public about the importance of geological heritage.
- Educational programs and awareness campaigns can foster a sense of responsibility towards conserving geo-heritage sites.
Conclusion:
- India’s diverse geological heritage, crucial for education and scientific understanding, faces destruction due to development and lack of conservation laws. Immediate actions include creating a geo-sites inventory, enacting conservation legislation, establishing an authority, and promoting public awareness.