Safeguarding Taj Mahal – Supreme Court Orders NEERI to Assess Environmental Impact of Glass Industries on Taj Mahal

In a landmark order, the Supreme Court of India has directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to assess the environmental impact of glass industries on the Taj Mahal. The decision comes in response to concerns regarding the pollution caused by nearby industries affecting the iconic monument’s preservation and its heritage status.

Taj Mahal: A National and Global Icon

1. History and Significance

• Commissioned by: Shah Jahan, the 5th Mughal Emperor, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Chief Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
• Construction timeline: Started in 1631 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
• Location: Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: In 1983, the Taj Mahal was inscribed on the World Heritage List for its outstanding universal value
• Renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• Declared a Centrally Protected Monument in 1920 under the Archaeological Survey of India.

2. Environmental and Pollution Concerns

• The Taj Mahal, known for its pristine white marble and intricate design, faces growing environmental threats, particularly from industrial pollution.
• The pollution from nearby industries, including glass industries, has been shown to affect the Taj Mahal’s structure, contributing to discoloration and degradation of its surface.

Role of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)

1. NEERI’s Mandate

• Established in 1958, NEERI is a premier research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• It plays a vital role in environmental management, pollution control, and sustainable development through research and development (R&D), policy development, and technology innovation.
• The Ministry of Science and Technology is the nodding ministry for NEERI’s activities, and its headquarters are located in Nagpur.

2. NEERI’s Role in the Taj Mahal Preservation

• NEERI has been tasked with conducting a detailed environmental assessment of the glass industries surrounding the Taj Mahal.
• The objective is to understand how these industries impact the monument’s preservation and propose measures for mitigation.
• This includes studying air quality, industrial emissions, and dust pollution that could be affecting the monument.

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) and Its Importance

1. Defining the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)

• The Taj Trapezium Zone is an area of 10,400 square kilometers surrounding the Taj Mahal.
• The purpose of the TTZ is to protect the Taj Mahal and other monuments in the region from pollution and environmental degradation caused by industrial activities.
• It includes not only the Taj Mahal but also other UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

2. Legal Protection and Supreme Court’s Role

• The Supreme Court had brought the TTZ into focus in a 1996 judgment in which it ordered industries to switch to cleaner fuels like natural gas to reduce air pollution.
• The Court mandated that industries around the Taj Mahal must adopt eco-friendly measures to ensure the long-term protection of the monument.

Recent Developments: Supreme Court’s Concern

• In its latest order, the Supreme Court has raised serious concerns regarding the increasing pollution in the Taj Trapezium Zone.
• It specifically addressed the impact of glass industries on the Taj Mahal, which have been contributing to degradation of the monument’s marble surface due to their polluting emissions.
• The Court has now tasked NEERI with assessing the impact and recommending corrective measures.