Expert panel moots steps to conserve Edakkal petroglyphs

Committee to submit proposals to govt. by March-end

The first meeting of the nine-member expert committee constituted for the conservation, preservation and management of Edakkal rock shelters has mooted steps to conserve the precious petroglyphs on them.

The number of visitors to the neolithic monument has been restricted to 1,920 per day day but such a decision was made without conducting any carrying capacity studies of the site, notable historian M.R. Raghava Varier told The Hindu. “So we suggested that a specific carrying capacity study be conducted considering the rate of weathering and moss development on the walls that may be accelerated by inhalation and exhalation,” Dr. Varier , who is also the chairman of the committee, said.

The meet suggested organising awareness programmes for the public to sensitise them to the historical and cultural significance of the centuries-old monument and the need to conserve it.