Pollution is threatening the structural integrity of the Taj Mahal, prompting local officials to scramble for ways to preserve the historic site. The nearby Yamuna River is plagued by pollution problems, and the soil beneath the Taj Mahal could be in danger of erosion.
Why was building the Taj Mahal difficult?
One of the obstacles in building the Taj Mahal was the nature of the project itself . Intended as a tribute to the untimely death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the building had to be memorable in design as well as construction. This is why Jahan insisted that the shrine would...
What is the main problem with the Taj Mahal today?
Water Pollution and Lowering Water Levels
The Taj Mahal sits alongside the Yamuna river, a massive tributary that stretches almost 900 miles from the Himalayas (near Mussoorie), through New Delhi, and eventually through Agra. The stretch that passes by the Taj Mahal is one of the most polluted waterways in the world.
What happened to the builders of the Taj Mahal?
The four minarets of the Taj Mahal have been constructed slightly outside of the plinth so that in case the minarets fell, they would fall away and not on the main structure. After his death, Shah Jahan was laid to rest in the Taj Mahal besides the tomb of his wife Mumtaz.
Why was the Taj Mahal built and what threat is currently facing it?
Global Development: How air pollution, a dying river and swarms of defecating insects threaten the Taj Mahal. ... But insect slime is only one of the problems facing the monument, built by the emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his favorite wife after she died while giving birth to their 14th child in 1631.
Is Taj Mahal built on water?
Around 70 per cent of the population is drinking impure water, and consequently suffering from several health hazards. ‘ The Taj is built on a raised platform on top of a hillock , which is based on wells underneath. ... The Indian government has set up body to deal with the Taj Mahal’s preservation.
How long did the Taj Mahal take to build?
Building of the Taj Mahal began about 1632. The mausoleum itself was completed by about 1638–39. The adjunct buildings were finished by 1643, and decoration work continued until at least 1647. In total, construction of the 42-acre (17-hectare) complex spanned 22 years .
What is the Taj Mahal affected by and what are the consequences?
It is the acid rain that is most dangerous for the monument. Indeed, the inadvertent emission of sulfuric oxide, due to road traffic, causes acid rain. This rain colors the Taj Mahal yellow, tarnishing it, and, worse, it erodes it, attacking what is most fragile at first: the sculptures and incrustations of stone.
Why is Agra so dirty?
“The reason why the city remains so dirty and disorganised is because of the wrong priorities of the government. ... The officials spend more time on organising fairs and festivals than on getting the basics fixed,” activist Ranjan Sharma told IANS.
Who looks after Taj Mahal?
Explanation: New Delhi: Dr Syed Jamal Hassan, director of Archaeological Survey of India, which looks after the world famous Taj Mahal in Agra, today said, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had clearly decreed that the 17th century monument should be looked after by successive governments.
Can Taj Mahal be built again?
Answer: Another Taj Mahal or the same building like Taj Mahal is cannot be built again due to the heavy cost and tough architectural design . It took nearly 20 years to build Taj Mahal and heavy cost. The beauty of this palace is cannot be redesign again.
Who owns the Taj Mahal?
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How many builders Does Taj Mahal have?
Some of the 20,000 labourers who toiled to build the Taj Mahal 350 years ago in the small dusty town of Agra must have had an inkling of its later fame as the greatest monument to love ever built because archaeologists have discovered their names, furtively etched in the sandstone slabs of a boundary wall.
Why the Taj Mahal is turning yellow?
Lucknow, Nov 04: The Taj Mahal, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, is falling victim to chronic pollution, and is gradually turning yellow because of air pollution caused by petrol fumes and illegal building works .
Why is the Taj Mahal turning yellow?
The acid rain digests and destroys the outer layer of Taj Mahal thus changing its colour and making cracks in the monument as well. The acids present dissolve the calcium carbonate to form calcium sulphate as a result of an acid base neutralization reaction causing the corrosion of the marble and turning it yellow.
Why is Taj Mahal yellow in acid rain?
It has been drenched in acid rain, coated in soot from industrial and domestic chimneys, and eroded by atmospheric pollutants. ... These pollutants – sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and mainly carbon-based particulates – have steadily weathered and eroded the Taj’s brilliant white facade , giving it a yellow sheen.
