Par panel to hear stakeholders' views on Taj's discolouration

Concerned over reports indicating that the colour of Taj Mahal was turning yellow due to increasing pollution, a parliamentary panel today said it will study the matter after hearing the views of government officials and stakeholders involved in its protection.
Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest will take the opinion of top ranking officials of both the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government tomorrow and then study their views. It may also send a team to visit the site, if needed.
"The meeting will be held tomorrow. There has been a report that Taj Mahal is getting discoloured. This is an extremely important subject.

"Taj Mahal is a world heritage site and India is proud of it. Two scientists have done research and have said that it is due to the carbon particles that the colour of Taj is changing into yellow. When I read this report in the newspaper, I thought it was necessary to discuss this issue. We (PSC) will be discussing it tomorrow," PSC's chairman and MP Ashwani Kumar told reporters.
He said that various organisations which are in charge of protecting the Taj Mahal apart from UP Pollution Control Board, Environment Secretary and other officials have been called tomorrow. Civil society members will also participate in the discussion.

A recent Indo-US study has claimed that Taj Mahal is slowly turning brownish-yellow because of air pollution.

It said that Taj is changing colour due to deposition of dust and carbon containing particles emitted in the burning of fossil fuels, biomass and garbage.
"Remarks given by them (stakeholders) to the committee tomorrow will be studied. If there is a necessity of a visit, then it will be done. If it is felt that some more organisations, officials or civil societies have to be talked to, then we will do so," Kumar said.
He said that he has received a very detailed representation describing in length about the possible problems the heritage structure can face.

"The general idea is to give a very thoughtful consideration to these matters which have actually invited adverse public reactions. That is why, it is only fair that MPs dealing with the subject are made aware," Kumar said.