'Hopeless cause': SC slams Centre for failing to protect Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The apex court also expressed anguish over the Uttar Pradesh government failed to come out with a vision document to preserve and protect the Taj Mahal.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday attacked the Centre and its officials saying that protecting the Taj Mahal has become a "hopeless cause" due to their "lethargy" in taking necessary steps.
The apex court also expressed anguish over the Uttar Pradesh government for itsfailure to come out with a vision document to preserve and protect the Taj Mahal.
They told them to either shut the Taj Mahal down, restore it in the right way or demolish it.
The apex court made the strong remarks while hearing a petition for the proper maintenance of the historic monument which attracts a large number of tourists in India each year.
The Supreme court also questioned the chairman of the Taj Trapezium Zone to give justification of the violations of its orders banning the expansion of industrial units in the zone, reports said.
A bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said no concrete steps have been taken by the government, despite a parliamentary standing committee report on Taj's protection.
The Centre told the bench that Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur was assessing air pollution level in and around the mausoleum and will give its report in four months.
It said a special committee has also been set up to find the source of pollution in and around theTaj, which will suggest measures to prevent it.
Earlier in May, reports came out saying that the Taj Mahal, is "dying" due to the level of pollution in Agra, which has risen sharply over the past 30 years.
Local guides say foreign tourists are dwindling because of the pollution that is lending a yellowish tinge to the walls of the Taj Mahal.
(With inputs from PTI)