Taj wall turns green due to ‘insect attack’
ASI OFFICIALS FEEL Insects coming from Yamuna side might be feeding on some plant and excreting on the marble wall, leaving a green hue
For the past few days, a part of the Taj Mahal’s northern wall is turning green due to the presence of an unidentified insect species that is leaving its marks on the white marble.
The chemical branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is sending samples to various labs to get details of this insect and its effect on the white marble of the monument.
The insects coming from the Yamuna side might be feeding on some plant or grass of specific variety and release of excreta on the marble wall is leaving a green hue, believe ASI officials.
They claimed that it could be washed with water and believe that this pattern would last for 8 to 10 days, as seen in the past.
The ‘insect attack’ is mostly during night hours and restricted to the northern wall towards the Yamuna. It appears that these insects prefer to stay at cooler places, as they are not affecting the eastern, western or southern sides of the monument which remain exposed to the sun.
Officials of ASI’s chemical branch led by Dr MK Bhatnagar reached the spot on Friday and inspected the impact of the insect on the wall.
“This type of pattern was witnessed in October last year, but it faded away after a few days. Again a similar pattern is being witnessed and it is under observation,” informed an official of ASI. “We have taken the samples and are sending them to the Zoological Survey of India, Forest Research Institute in Dehradun and Director Science at Dehradun for identification of the insect affecting the northern wall of Taj Mahal,” he stated.
“We are also working in association with IIT, Kanpur to study the impact of the insect on the marble of Taj Mahal. Scientists at National Botanical Research Institute are also being consulted in this regard,” he added.
The ASI chemical branch team visited the rear side of Taj Mahal on Friday and looked for some grass or plant, on which these insects are feeding. However, no such plant or grass was found alongside river Yamuna.
In October last, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had placed lights on the rear side of the Taj for security reasons and it was believed that these insects were attracted because of these lights.
Though the direction of light source has been changed, the repeat of the pattern has puzzled ASI officials. But the officials are confident that the exact reason and nature of problem would be identified soon.