Taj Mahal covered in dust, poisonous gases few months after Unlock

Taj Mahal in Agra is surrounded by clouds of dust and poisonous gases due to air pollution only a few days after ‘unlock’, reported ANI. The construction work being done in the nearby areas is also adding to the pollution.

“People are facing severe breathing issues and the city is in a terrible state due to rising air pollution. The administration is not paying any heed to the situation. There is growing dust in the air, which is spoiling the monument as well as human health,” Ashish Singh, local resident, told ANI.

Taj Mahal, which is among the Seven Wonders of the world, was closed since March after the outbreak of coronavirus. The monument was reopened for public last month with all the COVID-19 preventive measures.

“In India, Agra is among the top 10 most polluted cities. There is construction going on everywhere. We’re facing a lot of breathing issues because of the rising pollution,” said Gaurav Gupta, another resident.

Syeed Munnwar Ali, chairman of National Memorial Safety Committee,  said, “We have initiated plantation drives across Agra to induce fresh oxygen in the air and lower the pollution level. We have instructed all construction sites so that they reduce dust and dirt emanating from those sites,” Ali told ANI.

He further added, “To protect the Taj Mahal, 100 electronic buses will soon be introduced, which will be driven in the 20 meters radius of the monument. These buses will not emit any harmful gases and protect the white marble from diminishing due to pollutants.”