The Centre for Heritage and Ecological Research through Arts and Literature (Cheral), Madurai, has urged the State government to declare Jakkammal Karadu in Andipatti in Theni district as an archaeological protected monument and Biodiversity Heritage Site.

Cheral, in a press release, urged Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology to declare the hill as a protected monument and the Forest Department to declare it a Biodiversity Heritage Site.

Jakkammal Karadu is a site of archaeological and biodiversity significance. Neolithic stone tools and Megalithic potsherds were discovered in the vicinity of the hill. Megalithic period white-pigmented cave paintings on the northern side of the hill, 9th century sculpture of a Tirthankara on the western side of the hill and 400-year-old hero stone adjacent to the hill were found.

Evidence found at the site indicates that Jakkammal Karadu has served as a continuous human habitation from the Neolithic period to recent times.

It was deeply concerning that the archaeological relics of this historically significant hill were currently in a state of decay and facing the threat of disappearance, the release said.

Cheral urged the authorities to take necessary steps to declare Jakkammal Karadu as a protected archaeological monument under the Tamil Nadu Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1966.

The release said Jakkammal Karadu serves as a habitat for over 20 species of wild mammals, 40 species of birds, and various reptiles, and more than 50 plant species have been documented on the hill. The number of species on the biodiversity list could increase further if detailed surveys were conducted.

Given its rich biodiversity, Cheral urged the authorities to take necessary steps to declare Jakkammal Karadu a Biodiversity Heritage Site under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Cheral said they have made a representation to the authorities concerned in this regard and recently conducted a Nature-Heritage Walk at Jakkammal Karadu.