Pollution taking heavy toll of Taj Mahal: Report

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The shimmering white marble of Taj Mahal, the resplendent medieval monument to love, is losing its sheen, and the culprit is pollution.

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) on the shimmering white marble of the Taj Mahal imparts yellow tinge to the marble surface, said the report of a parliamentary committee, headed by CPM Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury.

The panel noted that the pristine glory of the monument, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan, was being restored through the application of the clay pack treatment, which was non-corrosive and non-abrasive.

''This is being carried out for the removal of the acretionary deposits,'' said the report, which was tabled in Parliament today.

It said Air Pollution Monitoring Laboratory at Agra was continuously monitoring the ambient air quality in and around Taj Mahal to study possible impact of air pollutants on the monument and to formulate conservation measures accordingly.

In addition, weather parameters, such as wind velocity and direction, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were being recorded continuously as these have a bearing on the behaviour and distribution of pollutants in the environment.

The laboratory at Agra found that the level of air pollutants like sulphur di-oxide and Nitrus Oxide gases were generally within the permissible limits whereas the suspended particulate matter was always at a very high level except during the rainy season.

The panel recommended that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should take abundant caution to retain the glory of the white marble while undertaking any conservation activity at the Taj Mahal.

UNI