Bombay HC directs Maharashtra archaeology body to preserve ancient rock art sites in Konkan region, utilise funds of Rs 4.32 crore
A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Sandeep V Marne disposed of a PIL that raised concerns that a proposed mega oil refinery in the Barsu-Solgaon area in Ratnagiri district may end up harming the rock art. However, it granted liberty to the petitioners to give suggestions on the maintenance of the petroglyphs and to suggest any additional sites for preservation beyond the seventeen listed by the authorities.
The PIL was filed by three people, including two residents of Barsu and Goval villages in the Ratnagiri district, where residents and activists had staged protests against the oil refinery project last year.
The Indian Express in December 2022 reported that conservationists and archaeologists, including members of an expert team from the Central government, had raised concerns, stating that the refinery would damage the petroglyphs and could be relocated 5-10 km away from the present site.
The petitioners, through senior advocate Gayatri Singh and advocate Hamza Lakdawala, sought preservation and protection of petroglyph sites in Maharashtra. They also sought direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to initiate necessary proceedings under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, to protect the geoglyphs included in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
The assistant director of the state Directorate of Archaeology and Museums filed an affidavit, in reply to the PIL, stated that it submitted a proposal to the ASI in July 2021 for inclusion of nine petroglyph sites in Maharashtra, including Kasheli, Rundhetali, Devache Gothane, Barsu, Devihasol, Jambhrun and Ukshi in Ratnagiri district, and Kudopi in Sindhudurg district, along with Fansaimal in Goa, in the UNESCO World Heritage category. The Directorate added that the final nomination dossier was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris, through the ASI in January 2024.
The affidavit further stated that on May 25, 2023, the Directorate sent a letter to the CEO of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for excluding the Devache Gothane and Barasu petroglyph sites from the oil refinery project.
The affidavit added that based on the Directorate's request, the MIDC took a 'positive action' and informed it in July 2023 about the exclusion of Devache Gothane and Barasu petroglyph sites land parcels from the proposed land acquisition for the project.
The Directorate further stated that it proposed to the Maharashtar state cultural affairs ministry for conservation, development and management of seventeen petroglyph sites, including Bhagavatinagar, Chave, Deud, Ukshi Pochri, Ukshi, Niwali Gawadewadi, Kapadgaon, Umare, Kolambe, Kasheli, Wadi Rundhe, Devi Hasol, Solgaon, Devache Gothane, Goval and Barasu (petroglyph No. 1) and Barasu (petroglyph No. 2).
Furthermore, the state government granted administrative approval for Rs 4.32 cror
e for the conservation of petroglyph sites in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
The bench, in view of the stand taken by the state government and the Directorate, ordered authorities to preserve the identified petroglyph sites.
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