GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3554
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2005

GROWTH OF PLANTS

3554. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
be pleased to state :

(a) whether any discovery regarding growth of plants has been made at Jabalpur by the Birbal Sahney Palaeobotany Science Institute, Lucknow; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT.
( KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) Yes sir.
(b) Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow has done extensive survey in and around Jabalpur. Plants of Early Cretaceous age (about 110 million years old) have been reported from the Chui Hill of Jabalpur. The flora consists of Pteridophytes (Cladophlebis and Sphenopteris) and Gymnosperms (Araucarites, Elatocladus, Pachypteris, Ptilophyllum, etc.). These plants no longer exist and have become extinct. Besides, a large number of fossil plants as old as 65 million years old have been reported particularly from Dindori and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh and the Institute has rendered its expertise in establishing the Ghughua National Fossil Park situated near Shahpura, about 80 km east of Jabalpur.