HYDERABAD, Dec 8 The Centre for Environment and Development (CEAD) has urged the government to take immediate action to save Moenjodaro, a world heritage site, which had been badly affected in recent rains.

In a statement issued here CEAD representatives including Prof Qalandar Shah, Nasir Ali Panhwar, Badar Abro, Dr Ali Murtaza Dharejo, Aziz Ranjhani and others said that recent rains had affected stupas, walls and other structures of the historical site.

They said rainwater accumulated in parts of the historical site damaged it and if prompt action was not taken, the site would suffer irreparable damage. They said that national fund for Moenjodaro should be made operational and practical steps should be taken as time was up to save this important site of the Indus valley civilization.

They said that the movement of visitors should be restricted during Eid as this would be detrimental to the crumbling site of Moenjodaro.

They said that the relevant authorities not only failed to preserve excavated ruins but also the damaged unexcavated structures.

They observed that so far hardly 20 per cent of Moenjodaro was excavated while 80 per cent of the treasure of knowledge on Indus valley civilization remained under layers of earth even today.

The last digging at the site was undertaken by Dr George F. Dales of Pennsylvania University USA in 1964-65, they said. They expressed concern over the indifferent attitude of the archaeology department towards preservation of numerous significant archaeological sites in Sindh.

They urged the Unesco and other national and international organisations to come forward and play their role for the preservation of Moenjodaro.