PROJECT

INTRODUCTION

Location: On the banks of river Yamuna in Agra

Year of Construction: 1632-1653

Spread Over: 42 acres

Significance:

1983 -UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2008-new seven wonders of the world.

 FACTS

 The total cost - about 32 million Rs. at that time.

 In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-

precious stones were inlaid into the white
marble.

Marble - Rajasthan
Jasper - Punjab
Jade - China
Turquoise - Tibet

 14,00,000 tourist a year.

Why, Save Taj ?
 1. Industrialization

 Agra has been identified as a "pollution intensive

zone" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

 Mathura's oil refinery – No. 1 , 50kms

 2,354 polluting factories inside the zone.

 2. Transport
 5.5 million people living there and attract 14,00,000 tourists
annually

 High levels of pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,

nitrogen oxides and smoke

 95,000 vehicles pass through the zone every day

 3. Garbage

 Garbage produced by the 1.6 million people of Agra every day - an

official project report in 2000 put it at 350 tonnes.

 The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute 2,000

tonnes.

 The garbage dump nearby releases methane and other gases that
can cause yellowing of the marble.
 4.Yamuna River
 Industrial waste.

 Agricultural runoff

 Untreated sewage from Agra and the scores of other

cities, including New Delhi.

 New landfill at Kuberpur that slopes towards Yamuna.

 5.Human Inhabitance

 50,000 diesel generators used to fight endemic power shortages

in the city by the residence.

 The shops/stalls located in and around the monument use

primitive kerosene stoves, coal and wood to cook food.
 6.Acid Rain

 CaCo3 is a substance very much vulnerable to chemical reactions

 Acid rain erodes every surface

 WHITE STARTS GOING
YELLOW-“Marble Cancer”
 TAJ TRAPEZIUM ZONE

 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution.

 TTZ is shaped like a trapezoid.

 The TTZ comprises over 40 protected monuments including three World

Heritage Sites — the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
 INITIATIVES FOR TTZ

 LPG for all house holds

 Supply of lead free Petrol

 Preferential allocation of LPG for industries

 ULP in Taj Trapezium

 Low lead(.15 gm) petrol in Taj Trapezium

 The Supreme Court ruling on
December 30, 1996
 Banned the use of coal/ coke with a mandate for switching over from
coal or shut down.

 Only gas cylinders were allowed for cooking by food stalls.

 Action taken against electro-plating units for not installing air-

pollution scrubber systems.

 River police in motorboats have started patrolling the Yamuna

 1994- The Supreme Court of India ordered that motorized vehicles be

restricted in the 4 square kilometers immediately surrounding the Taj.
 Continued…

 Reinvention and reintroduction of the cycle rickshaw. It has served

as a low cost/ low pollution form of transportation.
 Continued…

 A green buffer zone -prohibits the construction of industrial plants

and supports the planting of trees and shrubs.

 Oil refineries have been ordered to reduce their pollutant levels.

 To prevent rain damage and algae growth special silicone-based

agents have been applied to the façade.
 M.C. Mehta v. UOI, AIR 1997 SC 734
 HELP OF CORPORATES
• In June 2001, the GOI announced to sign a deal with the TATA
group

• TATA’s commitment focused more on the restoration of the

damaged stones, cleaning of the marble, research into the cleaning
products and waterproofing.

• Tax exemption for TATA group

• Taj Mahal currently takes in about $2 million at the gate each month
 SUGGESTIONS

 More and more corporate sector should come and

join the hands with the government

 Making the citizen aware about how and why the

preservation is necessary.

 Include a subject in the academics of the student

both at the school and college level.
 Conclusion

 What if tourist destinations

ceases to be a tourist
attractions?

Thank you
 GROUP MEMBERS

 NIDHI BIYANI
 JANIKA TIWARI
 RAHUL UPADHYAY
 ANITA PATIL
 PRINCE SURYA
 SIDDHARTH PANDYA
 AMIT GUPTA