“No plastic, seal polluting factories” enlisted in the ‘vision document’ by UP to protect the iconic Taj Mahal

Lucknow, July 26: After numerous lengthy discussion and jotting down points, the Uttar Pradesh government submitted the first draft with a comprehensive plan to protect and preserve one of the Seven Wonders of the World, ‘Taj Mahal’ and its environs.

 

Ensuring to protect and preserve Taj Mahal, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to seal polluting factories, no-plastic zone, and a ban on construction activity on Yamuna floodplain. These are some of the measures listed by the Yogi Sarkar in their move to protect the iconic monument. The first draft of its ‘vision document’ on Taj Mahal, was submitted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The vision document was submitted after the apex court on July 11 lashed out the state government for its apathy towards the 17th-century monument. The government informed a bench of Justices that it plans to prohibit the use of bottled water within the Taj area and mark the entire area as a no-plastic zone. It said that all polluting industries will be shut and tourism hubs will be created in Agra.

A comprehensive traffic management plan to promote pedestrian movement in Taj heritage zone will be taken up. The government also said it would ban construction activity on Yamuna floodplains and the riverbank will only have natural plantations. Roads along Yamuna riverfront should be planned so traffic is limited and pedestrian movement encouraged.

The apex court has been monitoring development in the area to protect the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal at Agra. Its construction was completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The ivory white marble mausoleum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.