Agra's Taj Mahal will soon heave a sigh of relief and breathe clean air, it seems. In the first week of March Satish Sharma, the minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, announced a 10-point strategy to save this pristine white monument to love from the corrosive effects of fumes from foundries, glass factories, a high volume of automobile emissions, as well as from the toxic sulphurous emissions from the Mathura refinery.
An "environment friendly zone" around the historic monument will be created through an ambitious strategy of phasing out steam coke fuel, and supplying liquified petroleum gas (LPG) to the industries as well as to all the households in and around Agra.
Complying with the Supreme Court's directives to the Indian Oil Corporation, natural gas would be supplied to the Mathura refinery, and hydrocracking technology introduced to cut down on emissions.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.