Mining a threat to Barabar caves in Jehanabad Dostrict of Bihar

Largescale quarrying on the place of historical and archeological importance, has, of late, started posing danger to some of the invaluable rock paintings at Barabar hills, popularly known as "Satgharwa".

According to reports, about 50 licensed and unlicensed stone-crushing units are currently engaged in mining activities on the hills, despite the fact that the area has been declared as "protected" by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The forest and environment department has also repeatedly objected to the mining activities in the area.

Moreover, excavations on the hills, closed to the sacred Siddhashwarnath temple, have also hit the livelihood of the villagers of the neighbourhood as their pasture land in the hills is being destroyed.

According to sources, the mining department has so far unilaterally granted licences to 236 stone-crushing units for mining, without taking the forest department and the district administration into confidence.

Due to the growing clout of the mining mafia, the number of licensed mines in the area has doubled in the past two years.

The ASI has already recommended for inclusion of the world famous rock paintings of Barabar in the World Heritage List map of the Unesco.

Taking into consideration the ASI recommendation, the district administration in also currently working to develop the entire Barabar hills into an ideal tourist spot.

A group of cultural activists, currently working to preserve the sacred and archaeological spots in the Barabar hills, feel a blanket ban on the mining operation is the only way to save the paintings.

Meanwhile, taking serious note of the increasing mining activities, Jehanabad district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal has directed the officials of the mining and forest departments to work in tandem and close all quarries and crushers in the vicinity of the Barabar hills and Siddheshwarnath temple, so that no damage comes to these ancient temples.