‘Climate change could ruin Mohenjo-daro’

Experts say local people can save relics of ancient civilization

KARACHI:

Indigenous knowledge and local people's ownership could save Mohenjo-daro from the impact of the climate change, experts said during a discourse on saving the pre-historic relic.

The site, which is considered one of the best known archaeological sites in the world and one of the oldest settlements in the Indus Valley that was built about 5,000 years ago and ruined some 3,000 years ago due to a natural disaster, is again in a great danger.

The environmentalists, anthropologists, archaeologists, development experts and academicians in a discussion titled 'Disaster Risk Management of Mohenjo-daro, urged that it won't be possible to save the site from natural disasters without the support of local people.

"Increase in water table, agricultural activities, unprecedented rainfall and lack of awareness among the local communities could damage the site badly," said Javed Hussain, the executive director of Sindh Community Foundation. "Unfortunately, we do not have any disaster management plan and without that no one could save Mohenjo-daro that is our national identity," he said.

He said that his team aimed to train at least 30 persons from three villages near to the archaeological site. "We want the local people to own this site and save it from any future disaster."

"There are two dangers to this site - floods and heavy rains," said renowned archaeologist Dr Kaleemullah Lashari. "It is not only the government that could save heritage sites but all the people," he explained.

Dr Lashari said that the governments recklessly sign international agreements but, he added, they do no fulfil the promises. "We are still unable to understand the value of heritage."

"Mohenjo-daro is our national identity," said anthropologist Sikandar Ali Hullio. "The threat of climate change could badly affect this site but with the support of local people we could save it," he said. He said that he has been observing since his childhood that the local people living near to the site has been ignored. "Not only Mohenjo-daro but all heritage sites could be saved with the participation of local community," he urged.

"The local people have never been given importance and respect," disclosed archaeology director Abdul Fatah Shaikh.

"Let them know there are the owners and we are the servants," he added. He also said that the local administration was not aware of the importance of the archaeological sites.

"Jacobabad was the hottest area of Sindh but now every district is like Jacobabad," said senior environmentalist Nasir Panhwar. He said the heritage site was under great danger. "Everything us under threat because of climate change. We need to create awareness among local people to own Mohenjo-daro," he sadi.

"This is a novel idea to create awareness among local people and save heritage sites from climate change impacts," said Prof. Ismail Kumbhar. He said that there was a need to create awareness among the people to own their historical sites.

Prof. Shahabuddin Mughal said that the community suppoty program was crucial to save and secure the site during any disaster. "We will have to observe how local community face disasters. Their knowledge is valuable and we cannot ignore them," he urged.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2022.