Citing damage to ancient rock carvings, experts red-flag mega oil refinery project
- The site proposed for a mega oil refinery in Barsu village of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district is at the centre of a row over whether it might damage ancient rock carvings found in the area.
- The rock art/ petroglyphs, estimated to be 20,000 years old and classified as protected monuments have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites.
About the project
- Known as: Ratnagiri oil refinery and petrochemical complex
- Developed by: Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited, a JV of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.
- Issue: conservationists and archaeologists say it will end up damaging the petroglyphs.
Petroglyphs
- Drawn by: removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving or abrading.
- Petroglyphs in Ratnagiri: has > 1,500 petroglyphs, aka katal shilpa, spread across 70 sites.
- Types of carvings: in the shape of human figures, birds, animals and geometric forms.
Prelims Takeaway
- Petroglyphs