Last week I went to visit Taj Mahal. However, having some time in hand, I decided to go beyond and behind the Taj. The glamour and beauty of Taj is a mask hiding the ugly truth of Agra District Administration (ADA) and highlighting the loopholes and lacuna in our Agra city.

Towards the right side of the east gate entrance of Taj Mahal, two roads lead to behind the Taj, one goes to Dashehra Ghat and other to Khan-i-Dauran ki Haveli. Khan-i-Daura ki Haveli is a premier spot for wedding photography. As of now it has not been declared a protected monument of National Importance under jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (confirm notification is pending). However this exclusive spot which provides a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal hides an ugly truth. It showed me the Dirty Taj.

**Chhatri remaining of the Khan-i-Dauran ki Haveli**

The naala discharging efluents from Taj Ganj into river Yamuna
The naala and Taj Mahal in backdrop
The naala, river Yamuna, Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh
The Dirty Taj
The Dirty Taj
The Dirty Taj

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

It is very important to fix the accountability for this mess. Who is responsible for this; The small and large businesses, the executive or district administration, the legislative or policy makers, the supreme court, the tourists or the citizens?

THE BEHIND STORY

M.C. Mehta & the Taj Mahal Case is a landmark example of environmental activism through the judiciary in India. It led to major reforms in pollution control and heritage conservation.

⚖️ The Taj Mahal Pollution Case

“Pollution in the TTZ is undoubtedly hazardous to the Taj Mahal and to the people living in the area. It is our duty to stop this decay in the interest of the people and the world.”
— Supreme Court of India, 1996

🔹 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India & Others (Writ Petition 13381 of 1984)

⚖️ Background:

In the early 1980s, Mahesh Chandra Mehta filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court.
He argued that pollution from nearby industries and vehicles was causing irreversible damage to the Taj Mahal’s white marble, including:
Yellowing and corrosion of marble
Acid rain from sulphur dioxide emissions
Threat to tourism and cultural heritage

Petitioner: Environmental lawyer M.C. Mehta
Concern: Damage to the Taj Mahal due to air pollution
Respondents: Union of India, Uttar Pradesh government, and over 500 polluting industries.

Tanneries and Factories closed (within 500 meter) near Taj Mahal

📜 Key Judgments/Orders:

✅ 13 December 1996

Ban on Coal-Using Industries:

292 industries in the TTZ using coal/coke were either:
- Shut down,
- Relocated outside the zone, or
- Asked to switch to natural gas.

2. Fuel Shift:

Industries ordered to use Cleaner fuels (like CNG or LPG).

3. Pollution-Control Measures:

Mandatory air pollution control devices in industries.
Continuous air quality monitoring in Agra.

4. Vehicular Restrictions:

Ban/restrictions on diesel and petrol vehicles near the Taj.
Introduction of battery-operated buses and CNG vehicles.

5. Green Belt Development:

Creation of a green buffer zone to reduce pollution.

6. Monitoring Committee:

A High-Level Authority (HLA) was set up to supervise the implementation.

📅 Later Developments:

2018–2020: Supreme Court reprimanded authorities for poor upkeep and pollution controls. It even warned that the Taj Mahal could be “closed or demolished” if the government failed to protect it.
Ordered comprehensive vision plans, better waste management, and local pollution tracking.

💡 Why This Case Matters:

Aspect	Impact
Environmental Law	Strengthened PILs as a tool for environmental justice
Cultural Protection	Saved a UNESCO World Heritage site from further decay
Industrial Reform	Pushed for eco-friendly fuels and relocation of dirty industries
Legal Legacy	Referenced in many future environmental and heritage-related judgments

WHAT IS THE TAJ TRAPEZIUM ZONE?

The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) is a specially designated area around the Taj Mahal to protect it from environmental pollution—especially AIR POLLUTION that causes yellowing and degradation of the white marble.

Declared by: Supreme Court of India
Year: Initially acknowledged in 1996
Shape: A trapezoidal area covering 10,400 sq km
Location: Around Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, parts of Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh
Monuments included: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and other heritage sites.

️Why was TTZ Created?

In the 1990s, the Taj Mahal was found to be turning yellow due to:

Industrial emissions
Vehicular pollution
Burning of coal and fossil fuels
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides forming acid rain

Importance of TTZ Judgment:

One of India’s landmark environmental judgments.
Set a precedent for pollution control around heritage sites.
Strengthened public interest litigation (PIL) as a tool for environmental protection.

RIVER POLLUTION NEAR TAJ MAHAL

The river pollution near the Taj Mahal, particularly in the Yamuna River, is a serious environmental and conservation issue. Despite landmark Supreme Court judgments to protect the Taj from air pollution, the condition of the Yamuna River—which flows right behind the monument—remains alarming and poses a major threat to the Taj’s foundation and aesthetic environment.

“Approximately 52 drains are pouring liquid waste directly into river Yamuna at Agra, just close to Taj Mahal, causing stagnation in river water as a result whereof fishes which used to check insect population by eating its larvae are dying and thereby disturbing the ecological balance,” NGT had said.

🌊 Yamuna River Pollution near the Taj Mahal

⚠️ Key Issues:

Sewage and Wastewater Discharge:

Over 90% of Agra’s sewage is released untreated or partially treated into the Yamuna.
Dozens of drains, including the Nai ki Mandi drain, Balkeshwar drain, Tajganj drain, etc., empty directly into the river.

2. Industrial Effluents:

Tanneries, textile dyeing units, and chemical industries in Agra, Mathura, and upstream discharge effluents.
High levels of heavy metals and toxic chemicals have been detected.

3. Reduced River Flow:

Due to excessive upstream water withdrawal for irrigation and urban use, the Yamuna near Agra is nearly stagnant for most of the year.
Lack of freshwater flow means pollutants don’t get diluted or flushed.

4. Solid Waste and Plastic Dumping:

Garbage, construction debris, and ritual waste are routinely dumped in the river.

Impact on the Taj Mahal

Threat	Description
Foundation Erosion	The Taj Mahal stands on a wooden foundation, which depends on moisture from the Yamuna. Drying of the river can cause cracks or subsidence.
Foul Odour and Mosquitoes	During low-flow months, toxic foam, foul smell, and mosquito breeding create an unpleasant experience for visitors.
Loss of Scenic Backdrop	The once-beautiful riverfront setting of the Taj is marred by sludge, black water, and garbage.
Algal Bloom and Frothing	High organic pollution leads to eutrophication, with reports of foaming Yamuna even near the Taj in recent years.

⚖️ Supreme Court & NGT Interventions

Supreme Court (Post-1996):

Repeatedly criticized authorities for neglecting Yamuna cleanup.
Warned that the deteriorating river could affect Taj’s long-term survival.
Ordered coordination between Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and local authorities.

National Green Tribunal (NGT):

Took suo motu cognizance of Yamuna pollution.
Directed Agra Municipal Corporation and UP Pollution Control Board to:
Install sewage treatment plants (STPs)
Prevent garbage dumping
Restore Yamuna floodplains
In 2019, the NGT said:

“The right to clean environment includes preservation of monuments and cultural heritage.”

Ground Reality

Despite orders, implementation remains weak due to:

Lack of political will
Inadequate funding
Poor monitoring
Encroachments on floodplains

✅ What’s Needed:

Functional STPs and zero raw sewage discharge
Minimum ecological flow (e-flow) in Yamuna
Public accountability and regular audits
Riverfront beautification without disrupting ecology
Strict industrial effluent regulation

Visual Impact:

If you’ve ever seen foam, algae, or black sludge in Yamuna near Mehtab Bagh (behind the Taj), that’s evidence of how serious this pollution has become.

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AT YAMUNA RIVER NEAR TAJ MAHAL

Yes, there are sewage treatment plants near the Taj Mahal to help clean the Yamuna River and reduce pollution. Specifically, a project to rehabilitate the Agra sewage scheme, funded by the central government, includes the construction of three new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 166 MLD (million liters per day). These STPs, located at Dhandupura (100 MLD), Jaganpur (31 MLD), and Peeli Pokhar (35 MLD), are designed to treat the 61 polluted drains that discharge directly into the Yamuna. Additionally, there are plans for ten decentralized STPs (9.38 MLD), along with the renovation of existing STPs and other infrastructure projects.

These efforts are part of a larger initiative, including the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP), aimed at cleaning the river and improving water quality, which has been found to be a major factor in the decay of the Taj Mahal. The Yamuna Action Plan includes projects like the Okhla STP, which is designed to treat sewage from Delhi and discharge it into the Yamuna, potentially impacting the river’s quality downstream in Agra.

References

(Please feel free to comment, message or e-mail your suggestions / inferences)

THE CHRONICLES OF MILOTH MAMA

The Hidden Truth: Pollution Around the Taj Mahal

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

THE BEHIND STORY

⚖️ The Taj Mahal Pollution Case