Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone today informed that an International Fossil Park would soon be established at Khonmoh, Srinagar.While visiting the site, Dr Lone sought the records from the Departments of Revenue and Wildlife, so that the project is commissioned at the earliest.The DC was accompanied by Director Tourism, Kashmir, Mehmood Ahmad Shah, SDM Srinagar, Syed Hanief Balki, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Hamidullah Mir, beside senior Revenue officials.Director Tourism, Kashmir informed that apart from the tourism point of view, the site would also facilitate scholars for research work. He informed that the park has been envisaged to give a broader display of the State’s geological history. He said that department of geology and Geophysics, University of Kashmir had agreed for providing fossils at the site, which according to them would attract the researchers of international repute. He informed that the department would also establish a museum for displaying the artifacts.Pertinently the potential of the Khonmoh area is geographically and geologically well known as few years back the mammoth skeleton of elephant was excavated from the area.
The Deputy Commissioner held a threadbare discussion with the officials over developing the site into an international repute park.“This is unique site in the world where we have signs of the mass extinction of species during mass tsunami that occurred 250 million years back,” the officials informed.The Deputy Commissioner impressed upon the officials to develop the International Fossil Park on priority basis so that the park wouldn’t only help in preserving artefacts and historical sites, but would also give boost to the educational tourism in the State.Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner finalised the land for Chasm-e-Awami project near Lodhu Spring, Zewan Spring, Khonmoh Spring, which would also be developed by Tourism department. He also stressed upon the officials to develop Chak-e-Khonomoh as a model village under MGNREGA.The DC, later, took review of other development works of the area.