Taj faces threat from polluted Yamuna: Govt

Famous monument Taj Mahal which is facing threat due to air pollution has a new threat of water pollution as well. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the Ministry for Culture and Tourism has accepted that the microbes present in the Yamuna are causing 'greenish' hue to the Taj but could not reveal any concrete plan for preservation of its natural white colour.

"In the reply, the Minister for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma has accepted the fact that the Taj Mahal is facing serious threats due to microbes present in the Yamuna but could not present any precautionary measures or restoration initiatives," said B K Hariprasad, Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

"In reply to the measures being taken, the minister assured more plantations in the area. This seems to be a superficial and non–serious answer as no information was provided on availability of land for plantation. What is the existing number of plants in the campus? How much impact the plantation will have in preventing discolouration or restoration of the original colour," asked Hariprasad adding the minister's answer was completely unsatisfactory.

Earlier, in a study jointly conducted by US universities Gerogia Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin, IIT Kanpur and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), it was revealed that high air pollution is causing brownish yellow hue to the Taj.

According to the study, black carbon emitted by vehicles and brown carbon emitted by burning of garbage deposits on the marble surface cause de colouration. Since, 2008 ASI has been using 'clay pack treatment' by using the lime rich Fuller's earth (Multani Mitti) to clean the marble face and restore original colour.