INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The 12-feet metal pillar at the entry gate, referred to as Darwaza-e-Rauza, collapsed as wind speed during the thunderstorm crossed 100 km
Archeological Society of India (ASI), which maintains the iconic heritage site, had appealed in the Supreme Court for sorting out the
ownership of the Taj Mahal, against the Waqf board's decision to declare the Taj as its property.The Supreme Court on Wednesday has asked
the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, to show documents signed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, to prove that it owns the Taj Mahal."Who in India
will believe that it the Taj belongs to the Waqf board," asked the Bench, comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, and added
Independence, the society has been maintaining the Taj Mahal.The Supreme Court on March 23, directed the Uttar Pradesh government to place
before it a draft of vision document on protection and preservation of the Taj Mahal and environment in the Taj Trapezium Zone.The Uttar
Pradesh government informed the top court that it was working on the vision document which would help in the protection and preservation of
the work on the vision document.In January, the ASI, after a study said the Taj has been losing its sheen and the structure is suffering due
to increased pollution levels in Agra
Experts said the abrasive nature of the particulate matter in the air is damaging the surfaces of the Taj.The ASI, in October 2017,
temporarily stopped restoration work at the TaJ Mahal and sought help from engineers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Some experts are of the opinion that repeated mud packs to clean the white marble may weaken the structure.(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
