A Marine Fossil Park will be established in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh.The State Government’s Forest Department will develop the Fossil Park, officials informed. It may be mentioned that a Marine fossil have been discovered on the bank of Hasdeo river near Manendragarh of Koriya district. The Forest Department officials received information in the context during their visit to the area.
Scientists from lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany have also inspected the area near Amakherwa village and have confirmed the existence of large quantity of fossil there.The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany is a premier institute recognised by Government of India for study of fossils. The scientists of the institute have found that this newly-discovered fossil is of Permian geological period and is around 25 crore years old.
They have recommended the State Government to develop this area as ‘Geo-heritage’.The State Government has provisioned Rs17.15 lak for development of the Fossil Park.