The Taj Mahal is preserved with yearly funding of Rs 4 crore from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Questions over the maintenance of the monument were raised after a visitor shared a photo of the developing plants on the marble exterior of the Taj Mahal’s central dome on social media. Soon after rainwater seeped through the white, ivory construction and dropped into the tomb below, the plant emerged on the northern side of the dome, growing in between the marble stones.
Some organizations and travel operators question the efficacy of the existing conservation efforts. “The Taj Mahal’s preservation costs Rs 4 crore a year for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),” said Shakeel Chauhan, national general secretary of the Tourist Guide Federation of India. “Such pictures damage the monument’s standing.” After the wet season, he insisted on starting conservation efforts right away.
According to Rajkumar Patel, the superintending archaeologist, every plant that was growing on the mausoleum’s walls was taken down in August. He said, “This plant has emerged in the last 15 days and will be removed right away.” A tour guide cautioned that if the shifting inlay stones around the plant are not fixed right away, they may cause more damage.
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A previous ASI officer warned that if the roots are not removed, they may cause long-term structural damage, indicating that plant growth has an impact on Agra Fort as well.
The incident alarmed the locals, who claimed it was evidence of infrequent monitoring and upkeep. They claimed that the media’s attention has been drawn to the Taj Mahal’s neglect in terms of conservation.
In addition, severe rain on Tuesday caused the ceiling of a lavatory in the Taj Mahal’s Shilpgram parking lot to collapse; however, no injuries were recorded. For renovations, the Agra Development Authority has closed the restroom. Visitors reported wet conditions at the monument’s assistance center on Wednesday.
