Assess glass industry’s impact on Taj Mahal: SC asks NEERI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to conduct an assessment of the nearby glass industries that are impacting Taj Mahal at Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

“We want to know the extent of pollution caused by these industries. If we find that these industries are causing pollution, we won’t hesitate to order shifting of these units. Some examination has to be made about the extent of pollution,” a Bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka said.

Asking all government agencies, including the state pollution control board, to assist NEERI in the exercise, it directed NEERI to file an affidavit indicating the timeline for completing the assessment.

The Bench directed the UP Pollution Control Board to constitute a team for visiting the industries mentioned in the affidavit filed by the state and examine the aspect of pollution from these industries.

“After completing the study of five industries, the pollution control board shall submit the interim report so that appropriate directions can be issued,” it added.

The top court has been monitoring development in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) to protect the Taj Mahal. TTZ is an area of about 10,400 square kilometres spread over the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. Earlier, the court had deplored the TTZ authority, asking whether the preservation of the iconic monument was a drama or a joke.

India