New Delhi, April 29
Petroleum Ministry’s 10-point programme, which includes supply of the LPG to all households and industrial units within the Taj Trapezium Area (TTZ), has failed to save the national monument from pollution.

The monument will turn black over the next few years if the government fails to take concrete steps, says the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology and Environment and Forests in its latest report submitted to Parliament.

The ministry has claimed that it has been supplying the LPG to households in the Taj area since 1996, besides unleaded petrol and low-lead petrol to improve the environmental condition in and around it.

A recent visit to the Taj Mahal by this correspondent revealed that the colour of the white marble has badly faded though renovation work is still going on.

Visitors also lament that in the next few years, the glory of the Taj may be limited to the history text books if corrective steps are not taken immediately.

The committee has noted: “This most celebrated monument viewed from a distance, looms on the banks of a stinking river almost always enveloped in a haze of dust and smog from belching smokestacks and exhaust fumes from the surrounding industries.”

“The committee feels with a painful heart that this soot and fumes will eventually turn the gleaming white building black,” it adds.

In recent years, owing to growth of industries, the ambient air quality, particularly within the TTZ area, has become more and more vulnerable to severe pollution generating a serious threat to the quality of white marble of the structure.

Due to lack of coordination between the state government and the Centre, most of the pollution checking programmes have failed over the years.

The Ministry of Tourism has been making efforts to sell the Taj across the globe to attract tourists to India.

The TTZ area, stretching over 10,400 sq km, has been declared prohibited for establishment and expansion of polluting industries.

The Petroleum Ministry has also directed the Mathura refinery to comply with the recommendations of the NEERI report such as use of natural gas, improved sulphur recovery unit, setting up of hydro cracking unit and development of green belt around the premises.

Environmental lobbies have, however, alleged that the refinery was still polluting the environment in the region, leading to blackening of the Taj.

It has also asked GAIL to study and collect details for preparation of feasibility report on the establishment of a CNG facility in Agra.