A great discussion with the famous environmentalist scientists and professors like Dr. Agrahari’s Sir (Scientist, Delhi IIT), Dr. Dheraj Sir (KMC, DU), Dr.V.P.S Malik (Shivaji, DU), etc… After a very hard discussions and with the source/help of ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, and Department of tourism, Government of UP. I/We will try to search the core point which is responsible for TAJ MAHAL TURNS GREEN? And also try to find the some way out to get rid about the same.

Importantly, During the UP election Survey 2017 which was organised by Developing Countries Research Centre (DCRC), DU. I/we catch the opportunity, after the survey, to look and observe Taj Mahal and its Current Conditions with regard to above and environment too while i/we have very limited time, LIVE on 8 February, 2017. Further, Activists attributed it to the day today rising pollution levels of the Yamuna, saying it led to an “explosive breeding” of the insect in the river, on whose banks stands the 17th century monument.

One knows that ‘The Taj’ is one Amongst the World’s Wonders!
One knows that it is one Amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites!!
One knows The Taj as a legend of eternal love of an Emperor for his favourite Queen!!!

Well, ‘The Taj’ has distinctions much beyond just these!
Therefore, ‘The Taj’, surely, deserves your visit once and more!!!,

Source: Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh

In Short, The Indian Historical Monument is turning green due to release of faeces and dirty by insect, Geoldichironomus (Chironomus calligraphus), Yamuna has become to stagnant due to pouring of waste directly into it, that fish that earlier kept insect populations in check are dying, This is Resulting into “Explosive Breeding” of the insect, which is a biological indicator of water quality and localised water pollution. Does Polluted rivers are the growing causes of Taj Turn Green?

If one has a heart that beats and that beat throbs to seek, the purity of love in galore! Surely one deserves a visit to ‘The Taj’, as much as ‘The Taj’ deserves your visit once, and more!

The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Significantly, With the source of BBC we find that, India’s iconic Taj Mahal has been threatened in recent weeks by insect poo. Environmentalists say that bugs from the polluted Yamuna river nearby are invading the monument, leaving greenish-black patches of waste on its pristine white marble walls. Over the years, the 17th Century monument has been threatened by pollution, unabashed construction, a crematorium and even bombs. Source : The BBC’s Geeta Pandey in Delhi reports on five threats-past and present-to India’s “monument of love”.

Causes

First, Insect Poo; Mr Joshi has filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal-a special tribunal set up by the government to deal with environmental disputes-saying that the “explosive breeding” of the pests in the polluted Yamuna river is marring the beauty of the monument. An invasion of the insect called Chironomus Calligraphus (Geoldichironomus) is turning the Taj Mahal green, says environmental activist DK Joshi.

However, Fifty-two drains are pouring waste directly into the river and just behind the monument, Yamuna has become so stagnant that fish that earlier kept insect populations in check are dying. This allows pests to proliferate in the river, Mr Joshi told the BBC by phone from the northern city of Agra where the Taj is located.

The stains the bugs leave on the marble are washable and workers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have been trying to scrub the walls clean, but Mr Joshi says frequent scrubbing can take the sheen off the marble. He says the problem has a simple solution-just clean up the Yamuna. On Monday 25, July 2016. Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav ordered officials to “trace the factors behind the problem and find a solution”.

Second, pollution and mud-pack; Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth, Taj Mahal is often described as one of the wonders of the world. It is also India’s biggest tourist attraction, visited by heads of states, celebrities and millions of Indian and foreign tourists every year. But pollution from the industries in Agra and a nearby oil refinery have seen the white marble yellowing over the years.

To restore the monument’s beauty, the ASI has been applying “mud packs” on its walls to draw out the pollutants. Manoj Bhatnagar of the ASI’s chemical department told the BBC that the mud-pack is based on a traditional recipe used by Indian women from ancient times to restore a natural glow to their faces.

A layer of fullers earth – a type of lime-rich clay – mixed with water is applied over the walls and left on for 24 hours or more to dry. Once it dries, the mud is removed and the surface is washed with distilled water to remove impurities. The marble mausoleum had been given this treatment several times in the past: in 1994, 2001, 2008 and 2014.

Third, A Shopping Centre; In November 2002, the government of the UP state began work on a shopping complex near around the Taj Mahal. While, Mall/Shopping Centre was being constructed to relocate shops that had been removed from the Taj Mahal under a Supreme Court (SC) order.

The authorities said that once the mall opened, tourists would be able to visit the Taj without having to go through the crowded and polluted streets. However, the project prompted howls of protest from environmentalists who said the project violated environment protection laws and placed the monument at risk. The proposal was eventually abandoned.

Fourth, Funeral pyres; Last year, India’s Supreme Court ordered a wood-burning crematorium near the Taj Mahal to be moved to protect the monument from the smoke and ash blown over from funeral pyres. The court said the authorities could either move the 200-year-old crematorium or build an electric powered one to reduce pollution to the monument. The state government agreed, but faced protests from some Hindu groups. So far, the crematorium still has not been moved.

Finally, Bomb and Militants; This was not the first time the Taj had been on the radar of militant groups – in January 2001, security was stepped up after reports that Pakistan-based militant group Laskhar-e-Taiba was threatening to blow up the monument. Police said they were investigating an e-mail from the group threatening to attack the Taj, but a spokesman for Let denied the allegation, saying it was Indian propaganda to discredit them.

Why is the Taj Mahal white?

Yes, Because it is constructed of white marble : The high quality, expensive marble was sourced from the quarries of Makrana in Rajasthan. Over the year due to pollution caused by the increasing number of factories in Agra, the immaculate whiteness has been turning yellow. It was proposed that the marble be treated with a chemical mix that included multani mitti in order to restore its white colour.

Debatable Area; What is the secret of Taj Mahal’s basement?

Its been said, At the basement of Taj Mahal, there is a vedic Shiva temple. Taj mahal was not built by Shahjahan, it was built by king of jaipur ‘jaysinh’. After commanded over tejo mahalaya, shahjahan destroyed evidence of Hindu construction. But it is still noticeable fact, that it’s a Hindu construction.

Towards Solution

The present form of Indian government is already looking at ways to solve this problem. But cleaning the river entails a lot of work on their part. Algae proliferate on the river due to the ash of crematoriums dumped into the river. I/we think that; To solve this problem, not only should the polluted river be cleaned, but the way of life for business surrounding the river should change as well. Yes, It may sound difficult but if the determination is there to preserve the national monument and Environment, then it can, and should be accomplished at all cost.

The phenomenon caught the attention of the National Green Tribunal, which sent notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the U.P. government. The Tribunal acted upon the plea of an environment activist from Agra, D.K. Joshi, who claimed that the dumping of waste in the Yamuna led to the stagnation of the river and the consequent “explosive breeding” of the insect, which is a “biological indicator of water quality and localised water pollution.” Alarmed by the phenomenon, Mr. Yadav vowed that his government will not allow any damage to happen” to the monument. We hope for the best from Public as well as government of India side…