Save Taj Mahal by rescuing Yamuna River

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Is Taj Mahal tilting?

Thursday October 14 2004 09:16 IST

IANS

 

AGRA: The Taj Mahal, India's biggest tourist draw, might already be

tilting and may even crumble or sink if the government does not

restore its original ecological settings.

 

Two noted historians have warned that the bed of the river Yamuna

must be re-filled with water if the world's most famous monument,

built on its banks, is to be saved.

 

The Taj Mahal is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year. Built

with high quality white marble, it came up in the 17th century and

is known as the monument of love.

 

"Dangerous tilts in its minarets, first noticed as early as 1942 and

mentioned in various reports, have continued to increase over the

years. They are caused by the dry river bed," Ram Nath, a former

head of Rajasthan University's history department, told IANS.

 

"The river forms an integral part of the monument's design. All

available historical records indicate that the Yamuna was always

full of water and extensively used for transport. Even Shahjahan's

(the Mughal king who built the monument) body was brought to the Taj

from the Agra Fort in a boat," he said.

 

"There was also a sprawling water body between the fort and the Taj,

formed by the confluence of the Yamuna and a smaller river from

Rajasthan. It ensured that there was always some 30-40 feet of water

around the monument. Today this body has been reduced to the Mantola

Nullah (a small drain)," he added.

 

If remedial measures are not taken soon, the monument would start

sinking, he warned.

 

Agam Prasad Mathur, a former vice chancellor of Agra University,

agreed.

 

"Yamuna used to be full of water to maintain the monument's balance

and absorb tectonic shocks. Now that the river bed is dry, the Taj

is exposed to the elements," he said.

 

Both historians said the government must focus on preserving the

monument instead of just exploiting its tremendous tourist appeal.

 

"And if the Taj is to be preserved for posterity, the Yamuna must be

rescued first," they added.

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or~sink~if~the~government~does~not~restore~its~original~ecological~se

ttings....