If Taj goes, authorities will not get a second chance: SC

NEW DELHI: SC SAID ISSUES LIKE TRAFFIC, POLLUTION FROM THE INDUSTRIES IN THE TTZ SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKED INTO WHILE PREPARING THE VISION DOCUMENT

The Supreme Court said on Tuesday the vision document on protection and preservation of the Taj Mahal in Agra should be prepared taking into account issues such as pollution in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) and industries operating there.

The TTZ is an area of about 10,400 sq km spread over the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

A bench headed by justice Madan B Lokur said authorities should look into the larger perspective while dealing with the issue of protection of Taj Mahal.

“If Taj Mahal goes once, you will not get a second chance,” the bench, also comprising justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, said. The bench said the authorities would have to look into several issues to protect the Taj Mahal and sought to know about the green cover, industries operating in the area and the hotels and restaurants there.

Meanwhile, the Centre told the court that they have communicated to the UP government to send a proposal to declare Agra as a heritage city. The UP government told the court that they will respond to the Centre’s communication within a month.

The Centre also apprised the bench that the ASI was in the process of preparing a heritage plan for Taj Mahal and the same would be filed with the UNESCO within three months. The bench also said that after finding a solution to the problems in the area, the government would have to implement the solutions.

“If they (government) do not do it, then court is there,” the bench said and posted the matter for hearing on September 25.