Acid Rain and Taj-Mahal

The air in the city of Agra, where Taj Mahal is located, contains very high levels of sulphur and nitrogen oxides. The resulting acid rain reacts with marble of Taj Mahal causing pitting in these wonderful monuments that has attracted people from around the world. As a result, the monument is being slowly eaten away and the marble is getting discolored and lusterless. The government of India announced an action plan in early 1995 to prevent the disfuring of this historical landmark.

This plan aims at clearing the air in the ‘Taj – trapezium’ an area that includes the towns of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura and Bhatpur. Under this plan mare than 2000 polluting industries lying inside the trapezium would switch over to the use of natural gas or LPG instead of coal or oil.

A new natural gas pipeline would bring more than half a million cubic meters of natural gas a day to this area. People living in the city will also be encouraged to use liquefied petroleum gas in place of coal, kerosene or firewood. Vehicles plying on highways in the vicinity of Taj Mahal would be encouraged to use low- sulphur content diesel.