 "Chhattisgarh to develop marine fossil park in Manendragarh")
Chhattisgarh Government had proposed to set up a marine Fossil Park in Manendragarh area of Koriya district. The department of forest of the state government would develop the park in Amakherwa area of Manendragarh in Koriya district—located in the Northern part of Chhattisgarh.
The presence of marine fossil was first discovered by the forest officials during the visit in the area located in the Northern part of the state.
The Lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany was consulted. A team of scientists from the institute also visited the area. According to forest officials, the scientists had confirmed the presence of Fossil and suggested to the state government to develop the area as Geoheritage centre.
A sum of Rs 17.50 lakh had been sanctioned to start the project, the spokesperson said. With the amount, the authorities are working on putting security apparatus in the area and protecting the fossils.
The officials said that region contained rich collection of 2.5 million years old fossils.
The proposal to develop a park was aimed to conserve the fossils and the rare and endangered flora and fauna in the area. This would also help in checking cross-border illegal trade and poaching of fossils, flora and fauna.
The initial report suggested that the Fossil Park was an unique exposure of fossiliferous marine Permian rocks of the Talchir formation belonging to Gondwana Era. The proposed park is exposed for a length of about one km upstream to the confluence of Hasdeo River and Hasia nala.
The presence of marine fossil was first discovered by the forest officials during the visit in the area located in the Northern part of the state.
The Lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany was consulted. A team of scientists from the institute also visited the area. According to forest officials, the scientists had confirmed the presence of Fossil and suggested to the state government to develop the area as Geoheritage centre.
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“The state government has started the process to develop the area as Geoheritage and set up a marine fossil park,” a state government spokesperson said.
A sum of Rs 17.50 lakh had been sanctioned to start the project, the spokesperson said. With the amount, the authorities are working on putting security apparatus in the area and protecting the fossils.
The officials said that region contained rich collection of 2.5 million years old fossils.
The proposal to develop a park was aimed to conserve the fossils and the rare and endangered flora and fauna in the area. This would also help in checking cross-border illegal trade and poaching of fossils, flora and fauna.
The initial report suggested that the Fossil Park was an unique exposure of fossiliferous marine Permian rocks of the Talchir formation belonging to Gondwana Era. The proposed park is exposed for a length of about one km upstream to the confluence of Hasdeo River and Hasia nala.