The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has been given four weeks time by the Supreme Court to present a vision…
Taj Mahal (Photo: Getty Images)
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has been given four weeks time by the Supreme Court to present a vision document highlighting its plan to protect and preserve the Taj Mahal and the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
A Bench of Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta also asked the government to apprise the court of the number of trees planted in the TTZ, a 10,400 sq km region spread over the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
Additional Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the state, was asked why leather industries and hotels were coming up in the TTZ. Mehta sought time from the court to respond to the question.
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The apex court is not pleased with the measures taken by the government to preserve the 17th century tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It had ordered the demolition of a multi-level car-parking site near the Taj Mahal.
The petition seeking protection of Taj Mahal from pollution and deforestation has been filed by an environmentalist.
The government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath intends to lay pipelines for water supply in Agra city for which it sought permission to cut 234 trees. In 2017, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the Divisional Commissioner of Agra to provide information on the number of trees in the TTZ while instructing the government not to cut trees in the eco-sensitive zone.
According to experts, the white marble of the Taj Mahal is deteriorating due to pollution and is at constant risk of sinking due to the drying up of the adjoining Yamuna.
(With inputs from agencies)
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