Maya gets rap in the knuckle for failing to lookafter Taj

Delhi, Nov 16: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has received yet another rap for her lackadaisical attitude in the administration of the state when she was reprimanded by the Supreme Court for failing to take proper care of India's most important national monument, the Taj Mahal.

A two judge bench headed by Justice DK Jain commented, "The monument is in your state. But this is how you take care of your monument? Is it the duty of the Supreme Court to take care of it? No one else is interested."

The court was responding to the affidavits filed by the UP government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While the ASI submitted a report made in 2005 instead of the current information, the UP government's report missed out on critical information relevant to the case.

The Supreme Court had sought the state's view as well as that of archaeological experts on reports that said that the Taj Mahal was in danger since river Yamuna was drying up. The monumental edifice is situated on the banks of Yamuna. The matter was reported in foreign media when the Daily Mail carried an article in Oct that said that the foundation of the monument was damaged. The Taj Mahal is counted among the seven wonders of the world.

The Daily Mail had also added that the water in Yamuna was important since it helped in moisturizing the wood used in the foundation of the Taj. It had also sounded a warning and said that there were chances of the Taj collapsing.

The ASI that has been in charge of giving the monument a facelift since 2007 had dismissed the predictions. ASI's chief archaeologist in Agra, I.D. Dwivedi has been quoted as saying, "We have been having regular tests conducted and agencies including Survey of India have never pointed out such threats to the survival of the Taj Mahal."

The Taj Mahal is a 358-year-old monument on the banks of river Yamuna and sees thousands visit the place each year.

OneIndia News