By Brij Khandelwal, IANS
Agra : Conservationists are not convinced about the usefulness and safety of treating the Taj Mahal with a mudpack for the second time in six years.
Experts point out that pollution levels in Agra are the main reason for the deteriorating condition of the monument and that the government should focus on that instead.
“This experimentation by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) should stop,” Mughal historian R. Nath said about the planned mudpack – possibly ‘multani mitti’ – announced about a week ago.
He accused the ASI of ignoring its own 1923 conservation manual by Sir John Marshall, which prescribes almost everything related to the conservation of protected national monuments and is not convinced of the ASI’s expertise in protecting the monument.
“Cracks are bound to develop in any structure over the years, but they have to be periodically investigated and filled with material that is compatible with the structure,” he said.
The Taj Mahal had its first repair in 1652, four years after its completion, when there was a leak in its dome. The leak was plugged using ingredients that had excellent waterproofing qualities like gum, gur and pulses, said Nath.
“The lime-mortar mix was used in ancient and medieval times for roofing and for filling the cracks and crevices. Aurangzeb had the Taj repaired with the same materials in several thick layers and the leakage was plugged permanently. The materials used by the ASI are a poor substitute to the original,” he said.
Some oppose using ‘multani mitti’, as it is a bleaching agent.
“Chances are that the pores of the marble slabs would be opened because of the treatment, exposing the stones to environmental onslaughts. The builders of the Taj Mahal gave it a permanent treatment using a ‘desi’ concoction developed after years of painstaking research. This is called ‘vajra lep’,” said Abinav Jain, an exporter of marble goods.
Nath added that there was no history of ‘multani mitti’ being used on large marble buildings in “Greece, Italy or anywhere else in the world”.
“Since it is essentially a bleaching agent, will it not make the Taj’s surface rough and uneven?” he questioned.
“‘Multani mitti’ does not absorb dust particles. The problem at the Taj is high SPM (suspended particulate matter), dust particles.”
Vishal, a professional photographer, says the latest exercise is being undertaken because of observations by some tourists and MPs that the Taj Mahal was slowly turning yellow.
“So far it has not been conclusively established whether the Taj was indeed changing colour. A little off-white appearance is due to the ageing process. Also, the Taj Mahal is a unique building, which reflects the changing moods of nature.
“After rains, it is sparkling white, during the hot summer months it appears yellowish while in winter it emits a soft, soothing and cool ambience.”
ASI chemists suggested the mudpack solution after studying the impact of the first treatment six years ago.
“If the treatment was so good, why do they have to give it another one so soon?” asked Surendra Sharma of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
“What this means is that all our efforts to fight environmental pollution in the Taj Trapezium Zone have dismally failed. If pollution has been checked as claimed by departments concerned, then what are the factors that are disfiguring the Taj Mahal?” asks Sharma.
The Supreme Court, in 1993, constituted a high-powered committee under renowned environmental scientist S. Varadarajan to study the pollution problems affecting historical monuments.
The committee came up with suggestions that have been ignored by successive governments in Uttar Pradesh and even by the central environment ministry.
The Action Taken Report of the environment ministry, presented to parliament in 2002, attributed the rising levels of pollution to the heavy vehicular traffic passing through Agra.
Experts from government agencies point out that even the background levels of SPM – assuming the complete absence of industrial, vehicular and domestic activity – around Taj Mahal would be above the prescribed levels of 70ug/m3.
“Certain natural conditions prevail in the vicinity such as proximity to the Thar desert of Rajasthan, agricultural activity such as tilling and ploughing coupled with blowing winds, pollen of crops and flowering plants that contribute to SPM. The low humidity prevalent in this region also promotes SPM,” the ministry’s report explained.
The Varadarajan Committee had made 20 specific recommendations for Agra. These included the establishment of a new railway station outside Agra city to handle goods traffic and an urban railway system to cut dependence on buses and other vehicles.