Geological sites in state may get heritage status

SHILLONG: The officials of Geological Survey of India (GSI), North Eastern Region (NER) will soon meet the Director of Tourism to present their plan for declaring some important geological sites in the state as Geological Heritage Site.
The geologists observed that Meghalaya is a treasure house for geologists in which fossils and traces of major global events are recorded while speaking at the International Fossil Day organised by GSI, NER for the first time.
Speaking to a section of the media, Director, PSS, North Eastern Region, GSI, Dr. Tapan Pal said apart from the Mawmluh cave, the GSI has also identified other spots which are seen as significant from the Geological point of view that is the Therria River, Sylhet Trap volcanism which is under the Kynrem Falls area.
He said, “Since Meghalayan Age is a global event and stratotype is here, we have to preserve it. Since it is reported from Mawmluh cave which is a global stratotype, we have to preserve that as a geological heritage site.”
“It is our compulsion to preserve and we have approached the Chief Secretary and tomorrow, we are going to meet the Director Tourism to preserve the site. What are the formalities and how we will preserve that site?”
Speaking on the major events that took place here in the state, Pal said Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary (a geological period which is approximately 66 million years old) is there in Therriaghat, which is known as Um Sohryngkew river.
He informed that the cretaceous tertiary event is a major event which notes the extinction of dinosaur and that record is found in the state of Meghalaya.
“We are very lucky that record is still there. There are so many publications and research has been done on that. If we preserve that area, it will also attract geologists as well as future geologist students,” he added.
However, Pal said there is very little information about dinosaurs and said apart from the extinction of dinosaurs, there are so many biota( plant and animal life of a region) that has been extinct during that time.
Gondwana land break-up: Traces in Meghalaya
Another event which has been of interest to the geologists is the Gondwana land break-up in which the state also has some record of it. Areas for which Gondwana land break-up is being researched is in Sohra road where there is a typical signature of the land breakup and apart from Sohra, the Southern part of Meghalaya, there are evidences of it also.
Pal said, “Once upon a time India, South Africa, Australia and Antarctica were joined together. After the Sylhet Trap, some sediment was there. Our study is on the sandstone because when Gondwana Land was broken up, oceans started developing and during that time, sedimentation started.”
“Traces of Gondwana land break-up are also found in Meghalaya and from there we came to know that once upon a time Meghalaya was attached with Antarctica, Australia. Then the break-up of the land started,” he added. GSI, NER maintains that public outreach in the local area regarding the fossils of the region and the significance of that in the history of the region is also an important aspect.
The GSI also aims to create an awareness to stop indiscriminate breakage of fossiliferous horizons that result from illegal mining; stealing of fossils from the important fossiliferous sites and selling them in shops or online as mementos or show-pieces should be stopped.
Pal informed that an international event which is the Olympic of Geology, the International Geological Congress will be held in Delhi from March 2-6 in 2020.