The Hindu : Steps to protect Pandavanpara assured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Steps to protect Pandavanpara assured

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 9. The District Collector, E. Ayyappan, said here Saturday that the administration would take steps to protect the Pandavanpara rock at Perungadavila, which has been declared a historical monument. He was responding to an appeal raised by the District Panchayat, vice-president, Anavur Nagappan, at a meeting of the District Planning Committee.

Mr. Nagappan said the rock was in danger of collapsing from the impact of heavy blasting by quarries in the vicinity of the site. He said the quarry owners based in Tamil Nadu had bought up large areas near the monument. Pointing out that the rock had been vandalised by miscreants, he demanded stern action to protect these activities. The Collector, who visited the site, said steps would be taken to construct a fence around the site.

Over the years, the rock, which dates back to the Neolithic age, has been under constant threat from encroachments, granite quarrying and vandalism. Towering like a sentinel, the imposing hollow rock rises to a height of 50 feet at an angle, with a small cleft at the top. Visitors have to crawl through a small opening to enter the cavernous interior.

From the deep engravings on the walls, archaeologists have come to the conclusion that the cave was a natural shelter used by Neolithic man.

The rock was declared a protected monument in 1985. But in the absence of clear demarcation of boundary, quarrying operations spilled over into unauthorised areas and the Government could do little to preserve the monument, which had been partially vandalised.

With mining activities picking up, environmental groups raised an alarm fearing that the use of jackhammers and heavy machinery in the granite quarries would affect the stability of the rock and bring it down. The green variety of granite fetches good price in the global market. It is cut up into huge slabs known as dimension stone and transported to Tamil Nadu from where it is exported to Gulf countries and Europe.

Archaeologists who conducted extensive studies on the rock shelter found several crude drawings etched on the walls including floral designs, human figures with bows and arrows, geometric symbols of feather, shield and trident as well as a number of undeciphered depictions. Many of the drawings discovered have been vandalised.

In 1999, the Perungadavila panchayat committee adopted a resolution calling for stern action to check quarrying operations in unauthorised areas. Some local residents staked claim to the land around the site asserting that they have been issued title deeds. But panchayat officials allege that encroachers had fabricated land records.

The dispute over ownership of the land around the monument is pending before the High Court. In October 1999, the Government issued a ban on quarrying around the rock. Several environment groups have been pressurising the Government pointing out the long- term environmental consequences of quarrying. Local residents attribute the high incidence of respiratory diseases like Silicosis to the quarrying operations. A small stream near the quarry has dried up and the walls of several houses have developed cracks.

Archaeologists feel that the Government should acquire the land around the site at least up to a radius of one kilometre if proper conservation efforts are to be taken up. They see the need for further excavation at the site.

The Archaeology Department has finalised a plan to encourage tourism in the area in a bid to preserve the rock. The department has drawn up plans to ensure regular visits to the site and build up public awareness about its historical importance.

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