The Taj Mahal Problem

Introduction to the Issue

The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz, is an architectural spectacle and also one of the wonders of the world. It is also a major tourist attraction of India. However, in the recent past, the monument’s white marble was observed to be changing colour and turning yellow. According to environmentalists, the main cause of the marble’s deterioration are the numerous factories in Agra that are causing high levels of suspended particulate matter, with a mixture of factory emissions, vehicle exhaust, dust and construction material.

In addition to this, the dropping water tables and the pollution of the river Yamuna that runs alongside the Taj has led to a drop in the underground water level by four metres over recent years. According to a local activist, “The levels are much lower than they were when it was built and there is a serious risk that the whole construction will be destabilized as its foundations are made of wood and need to be kept moist to avoid subsiding.” This is because ebony, the wood used in the foundation of the Taj, has an infinite life in water, yet it corrodes within five years if not in water.

Legal Aspect

In the year 1984, an environmental lawyer named M.C. Mehta filed a case before the Supreme Court regarding the negligence of the Taj’s decay. The petitioner sought appropriate directions to the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop air pollution in the TTZ and save the Taj.

In this case, the court interpreted Article 21 (right to life) so as to include the right to a healthy environment. Keeping in mind the world-heritage site status of the monument, and also the health of the citizens around it, the court mandated envi...

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... cleaning up of the river mandatory. Not only will this facilitate the maintenance of water levels, but will also prevent the huge amounts of raw sewage along the river and its drains which produce methane gas, which in turn contributes to the yellowing of the Taj.

In conclusion, the issue of the deterioration of Taj is undoubtedly one that needs effective implementation of solutions and immediate attention. While the judgement passed in the Taj Trapezium Case did a lot of good, there are still areas where more efforts can be taken. If we do not act fast, we might just face the grim possibility of watching the Taj Mahal, the symbol of love, collapse to its doom.

Works Cited

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/02/taj-mahal-threatened-pollution%20 http://www.elaw.in/polluter/mctaj.htm http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/01/taj-mahal-environment-pollution/