To further reduce pollution in and around world heritage monument Taj Mahal, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Agra Heritage Fund (AHF) to immediately commence setting up of a solar energy power plant to meet the power requirements of the monument and surrounding area. A three-judge bench comprising Justice M B Shah, Justice B P Singh and Justice H K Sema said the AHF having a corpus of over Rs 80 million should immediately start construction of the solar energy plant estimated to cost Rs 44 million.

It was contended by central pollution control board counsel Vijay Panjwani that the use of diesel generators in the surrounding areas of Taj including shops and residences resulted in pollution.

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The bench passed the order after hearing Panjwani and Uttar Pradesh counsel Ajay Aggarwal.

The court was informed by the government that monkeys at Sikandra were a visitor-hazard and steps were being taken to relocate them in the nearby forest. The tourism department stated that safe drinking water would be provided at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Sikandra and Etmad-ud-Daullah.

The department would also provide five pollution free Electra vehicles manufactured by Bharat heavy Electricals Ltd to transport tourists from Shilpgram to Taj.
Bureau Report