Taj Mahal structure is at risk from the nearby polluting Yamuna!

 Taj Mahal is a monument built by Mughals in Agra in India. It is a symbol of love and one of the seven wonders of the world. India inherited it after the Mughals were defeated by the East India company. But the climate and water deterioration of India seems to be taking its toll on this valuable structure that has given India renown in the world. Colored stains have come up on this construction on its walls. Since harsh chemicals cannot be used, the archeologists are using plain and distilled water for the cleaning. What is the reason for these stains? 

Taj Mahal is at risk 

The precious monument Taj Mahal is situated on the banks of Yamuna in Agra in Uttar Pradesh in India. Its walls have intricate designs on marble surfaces. But now amidst the ongoing Covid pandemic, green and black stains have started reappearing the walls of Taj Mahal. These are due to certain insects that are proliferating in the nearby filthy waters of Yamuna. The superintending archaeological chemist MK Bhatnagar stressed that though stains have come back on the walls of Taj Mahal, they are lesser than the previous time it were there:

“Black and green patches appear due to excreta deposited by a particular species of insect, Goeldichironomus, during the months of April and October at the time of variation in temperature,” 

Taj Mahal and the water pollution around it (Source: Discover Magazine)

He believes that as temperature rises, these stains would come down. 

What the archaeological department is doing about the stains? 

The scientific wing of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun cleaning the stains with water. For final cleaning they would use distilled water. They cannot employ chemicals for better and faster cleaning as these would damage the intricate designs, floral mosaics and the surface of marble of the walls. 

Last year, due to the strict lockdown, human activities in Yamuna were less. Hence Yamuna water was cleaner and the insect proliferation less. The insects breed in dirty water. The water is rendered dirty by the various human actin Yamuna. Everything goes into it from human excrete to industrial waste. 

What is the longterm solution? 

Every year, stains come up and need to be cleaned. But these are short term measures. The longterm measure is to prevent the river from getting filthier. The superintending archaeologist in ASI’s Agra circle, Vasant Swarnkar says:

"We regularly monitor and observe the developments but a long-term solution to the issue is to clean the river properly and maintain flowing water levels in the Yamuna.”

Polluted Yamuna river beside Taj Mahal (Source: LA Times)

Why is it so difficult to clean the river? The culture,  people's attitude, government improper ineffective policies, and lax attitude, and improper implementation of rules have made cleaning Indian rivers a failed challenge for them. 

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