Kokapet's ancient rock art site disturbed, boulders missing, but Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority denies role

HYDERABAD: A few boulders atop a cave-like structure at Kokapet rock art site, dating back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, are missing, triggering uncertainty over the status of these ancient art forms. Archaeological enthusiasts who visited the site found huge boulders had fallen apart with some chiselled and drilled rock pieces at the hillock base.

Talking to TOI, state archaeology department deputy director D Ramulu Naik said, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), which is developing the Neopolis layout, had "partly destroyed and disturbed" the rock art site. He said at least two letters were dispatched to HMDA, seeking cranes to reach the rock art site atop the quarried hillock, but the agency failed to arrange the machines. Earlier, Telangana High Court ordered a committee to inspect the site, but experts could not reach the hilltop as it was quarried and inaccessible.

The Kokapet rock shelters are at a height of more than 120m and twin rock art sites are near the Osman Sagar reservoir. Paintings in red depict stags with long curved horns and a canine-like animal moving towards the herd. Another rock shelter close to the Megalithic burials is embellished with a spiral and an inverted V-shaped design in reddish hue.

Archaeologist Krishna Sastry, who discovered the site in 1983, had stated the design was commonly found in Malwa ware and ascribed the stag in associated group paintings to the Neolithic-Chalcolithic period, based on stylistic similarities with horn depictions.

Sprawling urbanisation and real estate boom has rung a death knell to the Neolithic rock art site at Kokapet, where several sections of the rock shelters have been quarried away.

Ramulu Naik said, "Based on a high court order, we tried to facilitate the visit of the committee comprising Ved Kumar and others, but the rock art site atop the hillock was unreachable. In June and August, we wrote to HMDA, asking for a crane or a giant ladder. HMDA didn't respond to the June letter, but in August, they did provide a crane, but it failed to reach the height. In the past few days, we received information on further desecration of the site and our officers visited the spot and found boulders removed or partly destroyed by HMDA, which is developing the layout. We will again write to the development authority."

History enthusiast Vemuganti Muralikrishna said, "We suspect dynamites might have been used to blast the boulders, which rolled into the depths on both sides of the hillock. We are concerned about the status of the Neolithic rock paintings, which can be affected from exposure to rain and sun."

Archaeology department assistant director Madhavi said, "Our staff inspected the site and found it was disturbed. The role of a private developer is yet to be ascertained by officials."

HMDA, however, denied any disturbance or destruction of the rock art site. Chief engineer BLN Reddy said, "We haven't touched the rock art site. Our road laying or layout development has nothing to do with the site."