The fading beauty of Taj Mahal will get a soothing touch on World Environment Day

• For World Environment Day, UP government and UN Environment have launched an action plan to control air pollution in Agra.
• Agra is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and this has had a direct impact on the city’s historic Taj Mahal.
• One of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal has been subject to discolouration because of air pollution.

Right before World Environment Day, the city of Agra woke up to take action against rising pollution. Now, the government of Uttar Pradesh along with UN Environment, is set to implement a comprehensive action plan to control air pollution, which will also protect the Taj Mahal.

The city is home to Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. This majestic monument came under dire stress as Agra became the eighth most polluted city in the world.

The beautiful white marble facade of Taj Mahal is reportedly turning yellow and green, facing discolouration, due to air pollution. Not just that, the huge mounds of garbage lying on the banks of Yamuna where the historic monument is located, has led to an infestation of insects around the Taj Mahal.

These factors have turned tourists wary of visiting the monument. Otherwise, it is known to draw interesting onlookers in hoards, from around the world. The extensive smog which covers the tomb that dates back to the 17th century, during winters is not helping either.

An action plan

Now, the state government along with the UN Environment rolled out the action plan which will now control –vehicle emissions, crop residue, garbage and municipal solid waste burning along with industrial emissions.

Moreover, the government of Uttar Pradesh now plans to deploy 650 electric buses. A large number of international organizations are lending a hand too.

“To help deal with Agra’s mounting plastic waste, Massive Fund proposed a project of $30 million under the Alliance to End Plastic, to eliminate more than 90 percent of plastic waste from Agra. Waste management firm Geocycle further proposed to pilot a technology to clean up the Yamuna river in Agra. Kanoria Industries plans to invest ₹150 billion for sustainability related activities in the city,” stated the report by UN Environment.

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