Noting that temporary steps conceived in haste to conserve the Taj Mahal will only be counter-productive, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare a comprehensive plan which will secure the world heritage site for the next century or more.
A Bench led by Justice Madan B. Lokur frowned upon the State government's “haphazard” measures taken unilaterally and asked it to include experts in evolving a plan that will protect the Taj Trapezium Zone from the ill-effects of polluting gases and deforestation.
“Don’t make any hasty plans. Haste makes waste,” the Bench told the State government.
ADVERTISEMENT
The court asked the State government to consult historians, experts in planning and architecture and cultural studies, members of civil society and the noted PIL petitioner-advocate M.C. Mehta, who has been fighting in the Supreme Court for the cause of the Taj Mahal since 1985.
Vision document
The court said the State should submit a vision document to preserve the Zone, spread over six districts of U.P. and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Additional Solicitor GeneralTushar Mehta referred to an affidavit filed by the TTZ Authority stating the measures taken so far to protect the zone. “State Government is considering a separate micro level plan only limited to due protection and preservation of the monument of Taj Mahal. The State Government is actively considering engaging expert / professional institutions in the field of environment protection and preservation like Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad or School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and/or other such similar reputed institution,” the affidavit filed by the Tourism department of the State government said.
The court scheduled the case for hearing after eight weeks.