GOVERNANCE / GEOLOGY
YOU ARE looking at one of the most critical sites in Himalayan history," says Manoj Kumar, former director of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), pointing at a valley along the Kalka-Shimla highway in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district. With multi-storeyed buildings and terrace farming filling up the landscape, there is nothing that distinguishes the valley from any other in the area. "If it does not look different, it is because it has been destroyed due to construction of houses and settlements. Just four-five years ago, you could have seen geomorphological features—the cuts of the slopes, the inclinations of the rocks on the bare mountains that tell the story of the evolution of the range itself,” Kumar adds.
The valley is among a handful of spots in India where the main boundary thrust (MBT)—a 2,400 km belt in the Himalayas, running through Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutanhas been studied. Formation of the Himalayas started 50 million years ago, when the Indian plate crashed into the Eurasian plate. But MBT was formed much later, some 10 million years ago, as part of the same process. These features cannot be studied just anywhere on the belt. "It is possible to identify new geological sites but the process of studying them, including estimating the age of each layer of the rock, could take decades. The process is also expensive,” Kumar adds.
Pointing at the valley, Kumar says this was a prized section, a Mecca for geologists, and has been studied by students from all over the world since it was first noticed by an Irish geologist in 1864. "It has been completely destroyed due to mindless construction and road widening activities,” says an agitated Kumar, who accompanied this reporter to the spot and to many others on the Kalka-Shimla highway that have faced destruction due to developmental activities.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara