Safeguarding the Taj Mahal

• 26 Apr 2025

For Prelims: Supreme Court of India, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Taj Trapezium Zone, Taj Mahal 

For Mains: Industrialization vs Heritage Conservation, Conservation of Heritage Sites in India,  Role of Judiciary in Environmental Protection 

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The Supreme Court (SC) of India has directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to assess the environmental impact of nearby glass industrial units on the Taj Mahal. 

• The directive comes amid growing concerns over industrial pollution in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a sensitive area surrounding the world heritage site. 

What are the Key Facts About Taj Mahal? 

• Historical Background: Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and Ustad-Ahmad Lahori is credited as the chief architect. 
  • Construction started in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD; ancillary structures were completed by 1653 AD. It was built by artisans from across the Mughal Empire, Central Asia, and Iran. 
• Location & Layout: Taj Mahal is situated on the right bank of Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is enclosed within a 17-hectare Mughal garden which follows the Timurid-Persian Charbagh layout with four subdivided quarters. 
• Materials Used: Constructed with brick-in-lime mortar, red sandstone, and white marble (quarried from Makrana (Rajasthan) for the main structure). 
  • Extensive inlay work was done using gemstones like jade, crystal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc. 
• Architectural Features: The entire complex (tomb, mosque, guest house, gate) remains structurally intact. 
  • The tomb chamber is a perfect octagon, with four additional corner rooms and a central space housing the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Real graves lie in the lower crypt, following Mughal tradition. 
  • The tomb’s structure forms a chamfered square, giving it eight sides with deep recessed arches. 
• UNESCO World Heritage Recognition: In 1983, UNESCO inscribed the Taj Mahal on the World Heritage List under Criterion (i), recognizing it as a masterpiece of human creative genius. 
  • It is globally renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 
• Protection and Management: The Taj Mahal was declared a centrally protected monument of national importance in 1920. 
  • It is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Protected under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 & 1959 Rules and is enclosed within TTZ. 
• Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ): It is a defined area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution.  
  • The TTZ comprises monuments including three World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. It is named for its trapezoid-like shape 
  • TTZ was brought into focus by the Supreme Court’s 1996 judgment (M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India & Ors), which banned the use of coal/coke by industries in the zone and mandated a shift to cleaner fuels like natural gas.  
  • The zone classifies industries into Red, Orange, Green, and White categories based on pollution levels.  
  • The TTZ framework is responsible for pollution control, air quality monitoring, and ensuring the long-term preservation of the Taj Mahal’s environmental integrity. 

 

What are the Threats to the Taj Mahal? 

• Hota Committee (2016): The Hota Committee's investigation into pollution sources around the Taj Mahal concluded that local sources, including vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and construction activities, significantly contribute to air pollution in Agra.  
• 262nd  Parliamentary Report (2015): The 262nd report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, and Forests highlighted the TTZ Authority, set up in 1999 to protect the Taj Mahal, suffers from a lack of staff, funds, and structure, making it ineffective.  
  • Pollution from vehicles, industries, and untreated sewage has caused black and brown carbon deposits, discoloring the Taj’s marble.   
  • Illegal industrial expansion and poor enforcement further threaten the monument’s preservation. 
• Varadharajan Committee (1977): The committee raised concerns over high Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) around the Taj Mahal, primarily from coal-using industries. 
• NEERI Report (2016): NEERI's assessment revealed that concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) exceeded permissible limits in Firozabad, which falls within the TTZ.  
  • The Mathura Refinery were identified as significant distant sources contributing to the pollution affecting the Taj Mahal. 

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute 

• NEERI, established in 1958 in Nagpur, is a premier research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology.  
  • It plays a vital role in environmental management, pollution control, and sustainable development through R&D, policy development, and technology innovation.  
• Headquartered in Nagpur, NEERI operates five zonal laboratories in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. 

What Must Be Done to Safeguard the Taj Mahal? 

• Adopt Flue Gas Recirculation (FGR): FGR reduces flue gas temperature, thereby minimizing particulate dispersion and improving overall emission quality. 
  • This technique as recommended by NEERI should be implemented as a standard practice in the glass industry to control dust emissions effectively.  
  • Integrate Low-NOx burners to minimize nitrogen oxide production during combustion. 
• Transition to Clean Energy: Ensure all industries within TTZ adopt cleaner fuels like piped natural gas (PNG) or renewable sources under schemes such as the Ujjwala Yojana (for cleaner domestic fuels) and SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation). 
• Integrated Traffic Management: Accelerate the expansion of Agra Metro, and Promote non-motorized transit (cycle tracks, e-rickshaws) to reduce vehicular emissions. 
  • Restrict entry of polluting vehicles near heritage sites, aligning with the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). 
• Institutional Strengthening: Provide statutory powers, and earmarked budget to the TTZ Authority. 
  • Enforce strict penalties for violation of Supreme Court orders and environmental norms under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. 
  • Invoke and enforce constitutional provisions like Article 48A (environment protection by the state) and Article 51A(g) (duty of citizens to protect the environment). 
• Relocate Polluting Industries: As SC intended, accelerate the relocation of industries identified as heavy polluters. Restrict establishment of new polluting units. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) was created to shield the Taj Mahal from environmental threats. Critically assess the effectiveness of TTZ in achieving its objective.