Greta Jimenez
The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, has been facing a constant threat from pollution over the last few centuries. The white marble mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, has turned yellow, brown, and green due to rising pollution levels, poor management, and shoddy repairs. The Indian government has been trying to preserve the monument through various initiatives, including banning vehicles within a certain radius of the monument, closing and relocating factories, and implementing emission control measures. However, despite these efforts, the Taj Mahal continues to be at risk, with some believing it may soon hit the point of no return.
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What You'll Learn
Reduce industrial emissions
The city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, launched an action plan in 2019 to combat air pollution, which covers industrial emissions, among other things. The city's tourism industry has suffered in recent years due to air pollution, which causes the discolouration of the Taj Mahal.
In the 1980s, preservationists targeted an oil refinery upwind of the Taj Mahal that was emitting sulphur dioxide, which was causing acid rain and eating away at the monument's stone. The Supreme Court of India ruled in favour of the preservationists in 1996, and the foundries around Agra were closed or relocated, while the refinery was compelled to switch to natural gas.
Since the 1980s, there have been a series of measures to curb industrial pollution in Agra, including the relocation and closure of some polluting industrial units. In 2010, a report by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) found that the Yamuna water, contaminated with industrial discharge, sewage and solid waste, was damaging the monument. The report also found that emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulates had increased.
In 2024, a study identified hydrogen sulphide emitted from the polluted Yamuna River as more corrosive than sulphur dioxide from industrial pollution. The authors of the study recommended similar experimentation on marble for a 10-year period to definitively understand the impact of hydrogen sulphide on the Taj Mahal.
To reduce industrial emissions and protect the Taj Mahal, it is necessary to implement and enforce policies and regulations that target industrial pollution. This includes relocating or shutting down heavily polluting industries, as well as encouraging or requiring industries to adopt cleaner technologies and practices, such as switching to natural gas or other less polluting fuels.
Additionally, the treatment of sewage before it is released into the Yamuna River is crucial, as the river is a significant contributor to the discolouration and corrosion of the Taj Mahal.
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Control vehicle emissions
The Indian government has taken several measures to control vehicle emissions near the Taj Mahal. In 1999, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of 53 iron foundries and 107 other factories in Agra that were blamed for contributing to the discoloration of the monument. This prompted over 2,000 factories in the area to switch from coal or oil to natural gas. In 2018, the Supreme Court instructed the state of Uttar Pradesh to seek foreign expertise to tackle the issue.
The Uttar Pradesh government plans to introduce 650 electric buses, with over 100 already procured. The government has also banned vehicles within 1,640 feet (500 meters) of the Taj Mahal. This ban was imposed to reduce air pollution at the site, as the high number of cars is one of the biggest contributors to pollution.
Legislative changes have been made to address pollution, but there is still a long way to go. One of the legislative changes includes a ban on crop burning in the neighboring states of New Delhi, and a program that only allows cars with odd-numbered license plates to drive on odd days and vice versa for even-numbered plates.
Vehicle emissions are a significant contributor to the pollution affecting the Taj Mahal. A study in 2015 indicated that 3% of surface pollutants are black carbon, which has been linked to vehicle pollution. The high traffic in the city, with over 800,000 registered vehicles, has led to increased levels of suspended particles in the air.
Controlling vehicle emissions is crucial to protecting the Taj Mahal from pollution. By implementing measures such as introducing electric buses, banning vehicles near the monument, and enforcing legislative changes, the Indian government is taking steps to reduce vehicle emissions and mitigate the impact of pollution on this iconic structure.
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Clean the Yamuna River
The Yamuna River is a critical part of the original Taj Mahal landscape, and cleaning it is essential to preserving the monument. Over the years, visitors to the Taj Mahal have complained of a foul smell emanating from the river's black waters, ruining their experience of the 17th-century Mughal architecture. The primary source of the odour is hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a gas released from the polluted river water, which has been found to have a more corrosive impact on the Taj Mahal's white marble than sulphur dioxide (SO2) from industrial pollution.
The Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River remains polluted for most of the year and is unfit for bathing. This is due to the high levels of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) in the water, which, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), are 500 times the desirable level at the point where the river exits the city. Additionally, Delhi generates around 770 million gallons of wastewater per day, and while there are 34 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city, only eight meet the prescribed standards for wastewater treatment. As a result, about 29% of the city's sewage ends up in the river untreated.
To clean the Yamuna River, several measures need to be implemented. Firstly, all domestic wastewater and industrial effluent must be treated effectively and cleaned using in-situ bioremediation techniques. This includes upgrading and rehabilitating the existing STPs to meet prescribed norms and reduce the pollution load in the river. Secondly, sewage management must be improved by trapping sewage flowing into the river through the 22 drains between Wazirabad and Okhla, which contribute about 80% of the river's pollution. Thirdly, increasing the natural flow of the river is essential, as Delhi currently does not have enough water downstream of the Wazirabad Barrage to maintain an adequate environmental flow. Finally, a single agency should be made responsible for the river's rejuvenation to ensure accountability and effective implementation of the above measures.
The Indian government and private sector players have recognised the importance of cleaning the Yamuna River and have taken some steps towards this goal. For example, the Delhi Jal Board is working to upgrade STPs, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed the 'Maily se nirmal Yamuna' (from dirty to clean Yamuna) Revitalisation Plan in 2015, with a deadline of March 31, 2017. Additionally, the waste management firm Geocycle has proposed piloting a technology to clean up the Yamuna River in Agra. However, several challenges have delayed progress, including the COVID-19 pandemic, construction bans due to air pollution, and delays in land allotment and tree cutting.
Despite these challenges, experts believe that it is possible to clean the Yamuna River to bathing standards by 2025. Achieving this target will not only improve the experience of visitors to the Taj Mahal but also support the propagation of aquatic life in the river.
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Treat sewage before it enters the Yamuna
The Yamuna River, which flows through Delhi, is an example of the challenges faced by Indian municipalities in managing increasing volumes of sewage and wastewater. Despite national cleaning programmes and large sums of money invested, India's most polluted rivers, including the Yamuna, have not seen a significant reduction in pollution levels.
One of the main issues contributing to the Yamuna's pollution is the inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure. Delhi, for example, has the capacity to treat much more sewage than it currently does. However, due to insufficient pipelines and other infrastructure issues, a significant amount of sewage goes untreated and flows into the river. This has led to high levels of pollution in the Yamuna, including high biological oxygen demand, coliform, and heavy metal levels.
To address this issue, the Delhi government has initiated the 'Mission Yamuna Cleanup', which aims to connect all drains in the city to sewage treatment plants with enhanced capacities to prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into the river. The government has also pledged to construct common effluent treatment plants in industrial areas to manage chemical waste. These steps are inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to transform the Yamuna's banks into a clean and beautiful public space.
While these initiatives are a step in the right direction, it is important to recognize that the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River is a complex and long-term endeavour. It will require sustained efforts, efficient implementation, and the addressing of institutional gaps between monitoring pollution and understanding its causes. Additionally, it is crucial to involve the private sector and local communities in these conservation efforts to ensure the successful and sustainable rehabilitation of the Yamuna River.
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Use mud packs to clean the marble
The white marble of the Taj Mahal has been turning yellow due to air pollution, especially dust and carbon particles, and water pollution. The Yamuna river, which flows near the Taj Mahal, has been identified as a major source of pollution, with its black waters and foul smell being a result of untreated sewage and industrial waste. This has led to discolouration and corrosion of the marble.
To combat this, conservationists have turned to a traditional method of cleaning: applying a mud pack to the marble. The mud pack is a lime-rich clay that is applied in a 2mm-thick layer and left overnight to dry. The dried mud is then removed with soft nylon brushes and the surface is washed with distilled water to eliminate any remaining impurities. This method is preferred as it does not involve the use of potentially harmful chemicals.
The mud pack treatment aims to restore the natural sheen and colour of the marble, removing the yellow stains caused by pollution. It is important to note that while this treatment has been effective in the past, experts have warned that frequent use of mud packs may lead to the loss of the original colour, texture, and sheen of the marble. They emphasize the need to address the root causes of pollution in the area, such as air and water pollution, rather than solely relying on short-term cleaning methods.
The mud pack treatment for the Taj Mahal is not a new concept. It has been applied periodically, with the last treatment taking place in 2008. However, due to persistently high pollution levels, the marble has continued to discolour, necessitating another round of cleaning in 2018. This treatment focused on the main dome and the four small canopies surrounding it, ensuring that one side of the monument remained uncovered for visitors.
The use of mud packs to clean the marble of the Taj Mahal is a delicate balance between restoration and preservation. While the treatment has proven effective in removing yellow stains, the long-term effects of frequent applications must be studied to ensure the original beauty of this iconic monument is maintained for future generations to appreciate.
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Frequently asked questions
The deterioration of the Taj Mahal is caused by a combination of pollution, poor management, and shoddy repairs. The pollution comes from various combustion sources in and around Agra, including the burning of trash, dung, crop residue, and fossil fuels. The main sources of pollution are industrial units, vehicular emissions, and the polluted Yamuna River.
To protect the Taj Mahal from pollution, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives, including the National Clean Air Programme, vehicle emission control, suspension of road dust, and the introduction of electric buses. The government has also banned vehicles within 1,600 feet of the monument and ordered the closure or relocation of polluting industrial units. In addition, mud packs have been used to remove yellow stains from the marble facade.
To further protect the Taj Mahal from pollution, the Indian government should focus on strictly enforcing emission control regulations, improving waste management, and continuing to invest in sustainability initiatives. Additionally, the government should prioritize the cleanup of the Yamuna River and ensure proper sewage treatment before releasing it into the river.
