Question : Geological Heritage Sites

(a) whether the Government has any data/information about the geological heritage sites in the Himalayan region of India, especially in Union Territory of Ladakh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether most of the Himalayan geological heritage sites especially in Ladakh are on the verge of disappearance;
(e) if so, the preventive steps that have been taken/ being taken by the Government to conserve the geological and natural heritage keeping in mind that the protection of geo-heritage sites require legislation; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified two geological heritage sites in the Indian Himalayan Region of India. GSI has not identified any Geo-heritage site in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The details of the two sites identified by GSI in the Himalayan Region are as follows:
State Name of the site Location Brief description of the site
Himachal Pradesh Siwalik Fossil Park, Saketi, Sirmur District The Siwalik Fossil park displays a rich collection of vertebrate fossils recovered from the Siwalik rocks of the area of Plio-Pleistocene age. The deposition of Siwalik sediments took place in the narrow linear depression, called the ''fore deep'', which started developing in front of the Himalayas since the inception of its uplift in the middle Miocene
Sikkim Stromatolite bearing Dolomite / Limestone of Buxa Formation Mamley, near Namchi, South District The Geoheritage site at Mamley exposes lithounits of Buxa Formation, Daling Group of Proterozoic age. The dolostones are profusely stromatolitic (Precambrian algal structures). This site provides one of the rare examples of early life in Sikkim Himalaya.
(c): In view of (a) and (b) above, question does not arise.
(d): No, Sir. These two geological heritage sites of Indian Himalayan region are not on the verge of disappearance. These sites are preserved in the respective States.
(e): Ministry of Mines has approached Ministry of Culture to explore the possibility of inclusion of Geological Heritage sites declared by GSI, under the purview of existing Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (amended in 2010), by making suitable amendment in the Act.
(f): In view of (e) above, question does not arise.
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