Why in News?

=> Lok Sabha MP from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh informed that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has approved the establishment of the country's first Geo Park at Lamheta village on the banks of river Narmada in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points:

=> The park will be set up by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department at a cost of about Rs 35 crore. GSI has approved an amount of Rs 1.30 crore for preparing its detailed report.

=> Significantly, this site is already present in the tentative list of UNESCO's geo-heritage for the protection of natural heritage.

=> Fossils of many dinosaurs were found in the Narmada valley, especially in the Bhedaghat-Lamheta Ghat region of Jabalpur. The first dinosaur fossil was collected from the Lamheta Bed by Indian Civil Service officer William Sleeman in 1828 AD.

=> A science center will also be built at Bhedaghat, which is known for its white marble rock structure, at a cost of Rs 15.20 crore, the cost of which will be shared by the central and state governments.