Conservationists at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have successfully applied a pioneering 'bio-consolidation' technique to halt the structural decay of the Pancha Rathas at Mahabalipuram. The process involves the application of a specialized strain of Sporosarcina pasteurii bacteria, which naturally induces the formation of calcium carbonate crystals within the microscopic cracks of the granite, effectively 'healing' the stone from within.
This is the first time such biotechnology has been used on a UNESCO site in India to combat the erosive effects of salt-laden sea air. Unlike traditional chemical resins, this biological treatment is carbon-neutral and mimics the natural geological composition of the 7th-century Pallava monuments, ensuring long-term preservation without altering the aesthetic appearance of the sacred rock-cut architecture.
