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Usually, we don’t ask a lady how old is she as it embarrasses her. Why? Most ladies, as the saying goes, attempts to hide their actual age. Hence, dislikes being asked how old she is? But one among the Seven Sisters of North Eastern India, Meghalaya, would proudly say she is 4,200 years old. But why should such an old lady among the Seven Sisters feels so proud about her age? This is due to the reason that all earthlings officially are now living in The Meghalayan Age: in her age, technically. Interesting, is not it? Equally interesting is the fact that The Meghalayan Age, among other things, is also known as the “Age of Destruction” be it the collapse of Indus Valley Civilization or the devastation of Pompeii due to eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius and Herculaneum in 79 A.D.
Those, however, were in the days of past. Meghalaya itself is currently under going through the
“Age of Destruction” for the destruction of centuries old prized caves going on in full swing due to the haphazard mining of lime stones jeopardizing the state’s pristine ecology and little efforts by the state government to stop it.
Just imagine the state has the largest concentration of caves in the entire Indian sub-continent: about 1000 explored over the last two decades and hundreds of others lying undiscovered, unexplored and unmapped geographically.
Over the years, only about 118 cave passages stretching across 148 km have been mapped on the Nongklieh-Shnongrim Ridge near Jowai town in Jaintia Hills. The ridge has longest cave passages like Krem Liat Prah and Krem Umthloo.
The state government seems to be little concerned about the ongoing robbing of lime stones from the caves by the cement companies. Such caves enabled Meghalaya to gain the global tag of The Meghalayan Age. Just imagine, these caves can draw thousands of people to Meghalaya from all across the world thus promoting both adventure tourism and cave-tourism.
It may be a game of probability but the tag of The Meghalayan Age may soon prompt the ecological zealots across the world to save the lime stone caves that now are being ravaged by the cement companies. Why not? The stalagmite found in Mawmluh Cave, located at the state’s northeastern part, was instrumental in helping Meghalaya get the tag of The Meghalayan Age. It should be a national treasure.
Amlan Home Chowdhury
To read the further article please get your copy of Eastern Panorama August issue @http://www.magzter.com/IN/Hill-Publications/Eastern-Panorama/News/ or mail to contact @easternpanorama.in
