Need to protect fossil deposits spread over Karai and Kolakanatham has been stressed by environmentalists.
Spread over 107.22 acres in these villages, the fossils are one of the oldest and most ancient deposits. It is here that a vast stretch is available in a more cogent manner. The deposits date back to 20 to 30 million years. There is no habitation in the vicinity and the deposits are found in an interior village branching off from Irur on the Tiruchi - Chennai National Highway.
The Geological Survey of India had advised the district administration to protect the fossil deposits. “It is only here that complete shape of marine wealth is available intact while in other areas fossils are in a more fragmented shape,” an official said.
The Tourism Department had declared Karai - Kolakanatham fossils deposit area as ‘Geological Heritage Site.’
The salient feature of deposits here is that they are of ‘type section’ variety which means that the shape of the marine animals had been found deposited in complete shape without getting fragmented.
A visit revealed that there are mounds of deposits all over. A board had been set up explaining the importance of this ancient monument. However, no fence had been provided so far.
