Supreme Court pulls up UP government over shifting of crematorium near Taj Mahal
Mughals built Taj Mahal with primitive tools and you can’t even build a proper road around it: Supreme Court to UP government
“Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by hands, hammer and chisel. But your government can’t build a proper road with modern tools,” a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said.
The court also directed the UP government and other authorities to consider shifting of a crematorium located near Taj Mahal to prevent smoke affecting the world heritage site.
The Mughals built the Taj Mahal with just hammer and chisel but the Uttar Pradesh government has failed to build a proper road around the world-famous monument even with all the modern tools being at its disposal, the Supreme Court said on Monday.
The Supreme Court had way back in 1998 asked the Uttar Pradesh government and Agra civic bodies to explore ways to shift a crematorium situated a stone’s throw from the Taj Mahal as the smoke and ashes coming out of burning pyres posed a serious threat to the monument.
But the authorities did not take any steps in the last 17 years. Now the apex court has once again taken up the issue after one of its judges, who recently visited Taj, pointed out that crematorium is causing harm to the structure and asked the court to take steps to shift it.
“The wind direction, many a time, plays havoc and causes the smoke and ash to fly towards Taj Mahal, as was reported and is one among the major identified causes for the deterioration of the physical lustre, which ultimately may even pose a threat to the stability of the structure,” Justice Joseph said in the letter.
