JAIPUR | Sept 24, 2016: On March 9 this year, in response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union minister for mines Narendra Singh Tomar had given a list of protected geological sites in the country.

Ironically, two sites listed by the minister in Jodhpur - the Welded Tuff and the Malani Igneous Suite Contact - are under direct threat from unchecked gravel mining, which, according to activists, has been going on for nearly half a century.

The mining is irreversibly damaging the geological sites, located on the foothills of the 15th century Mehrangarh Fort, among the largest in the country. Officially, though, the mining lease was granted in the area in 1990."The lease will expire only in 2020. But if mining continues like this, there will be nothing left to save," said Mahendra Singh, Jodhpur convenor of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), who has petitioned the state government to save the natural and artificial heritage of the area. The Malani site, in a locality known as Kaga, represents the end of the volcanic activity of Precambrian Age (600 million years ago). Retired geologist Pushpendra Ranawat says neither local authorities nor the tourism department have stepped in to ensure proper conservation of this area.

According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) website, "Welded tuff is the product of emanations that spurted from volcanic vents and were carried away by air to settle later. They are composed of glass, quartz and feldspar."

Nearly 100 cenotaphs, over 350 years old, stand close to the mining site. "Mining has continued in this area for about 50 years. There are so many monuments across the state that it is hardly possible to list them all as protected," said Mahendra Singh.

The cenotaphs are not listed among protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Singh told TOI that Intach had written several times to the state government pleading for proper conservation of these sites. There is also a temple dedicated to Shitala Mata, the goddess believed to offer protection from chicken pox, in Kaga. A big fair is held each summer here, and people gather from nearby districts. A well in the area is believed to never run dry , even when drought strikes the rest of Jodhpur.

Local legend has it that the well is blessed by a sage, who had taken the shape of a crow for a while. This well too is threatened by the mining activities in the area.

An official with GSI, on condition of anonymity, said, "GSI lists monuments, but has no power to protect them. The district magistrate has to give direction to protect the sites."

D S Maru, director of the mines department, claimed ignorance. "I don't know about this matter. If Intach has indeed written to the government, I don't know about it," he said.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)

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