PROJECT

Location: On the banks of river Yamuna in Agra

Year of Construction: 1632-1653

Spread Over: 42 acres

Significance:

1983 -UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2008-new seven wonders of the world.

INTRODUCTION

FACTS

The total cost - about 32 million Rs. at that time.

In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.

Marble - RajasthanJasper - PunjabJade - ChinaTurquoise - Tibet

14,00,000 tourist a year.

Why, Save Taj ?

Agra has been identified as a "pollution intensive zone" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mathura's oil refinery – No. 1 , 50kms

2,354 polluting factories inside the zone.

1. Industrialization

2. Transport

5.5 million people living there and attract 14,00,000 tourists annually

High levels of pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and smoke

95,000 vehicles pass through the zone every day

3. Garbage

Garbage produced by the 1.6 million people of Agra every day - an official project report in 2000 put it at 350 tonnes.

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute 2,000 tonnes.

The garbage dump nearby releases methane and other gases that can cause yellowing of the marble.

4.Yamuna River Industrial waste.

Agricultural runoff

Untreated sewage from Agra and the scores of other cities, including New Delhi.

New landfill at Kuberpur that slopes towards Yamuna.

5.Human Inhabitance

50,000 diesel generators used to fight endemic power shortages in the city by the residence.

The shops/stalls located in and around the monument use primitive kerosene stoves, coal and wood to cook food.

CaCo3 is a substance very much vulnerable to chemical reactions

Acid rain erodes every surface

6.Acid Rain

WHITE STARTS GOING YELLOW-“Marble Cancer”

TAJ TRAPEZIUM ZONE

10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution.

TTZ is shaped like a trapezoid.

The TTZ comprises over 40 protected monuments including three World Heritage Sites — the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

INITIATIVES FOR TTZ

LPG for all house holds

Supply of lead free Petrol

Preferential allocation of LPG for industries

ULP in Taj Trapezium

Low lead(.15 gm) petrol in Taj Trapezium

The Supreme Court ruling on December 30, 1996

Banned the use of coal/ coke with a mandate for switching over from coal or shut down.

Only gas cylinders were allowed for cooking by food stalls.

Action taken against electro-plating units for not installing air-pollution scrubber systems.

River police in motorboats have started patrolling the Yamuna

1994- The Supreme Court of India ordered that motorized vehicles be restricted in the 4 square kilometers immediately surrounding the Taj.

Reinvention and reintroduction of the cycle rickshaw. It has served as a low cost/ low pollution form of transportation.

Continued…

A green buffer zone -prohibits the construction of industrial plants and supports the planting of trees and shrubs.

Oil refineries have been ordered to reduce their pollutant levels.

To prevent rain damage and algae growth special silicone-based agents have been applied to the façade.

Continued…

M.C. Mehta v. UOI, AIR 1997 SC 734

• In June 2001, the GOI announced to sign a deal with the TATA group

• TATA’s commitment focused more on the restoration of the damaged stones, cleaning of the marble, research into the cleaning products and waterproofing.

• Tax exemption for TATA group

• Taj Mahal currently takes in about $2 million at the gate each month

HELP OF CORPORATES

SUGGESTIONS

More and more corporate sector should come and join the hands with the government

Making the citizen aware about how and why the preservation is necessary.

Include a subject in the academics of the student both at the school and college level.

Conclusion

What if tourist destinations ceases to be a tourist attractions?

Thank you

GROUP MEMBERS

NIDHI BIYANI JANIKA TIWARI RAHUL UPADHYAY ANITA PATIL PRINCE SURYA SIDDHARTH PANDYA AMIT GUPTA