The TTZ in its draft vision document has suggested closure of around 455 industries, categorized as “red and orange” in a bid to preserve the Taj. Industries with a pollution index score of 60 and above are categorized as “red” and those with a pollution index score of 41 to 59 are rated “orange”.

The draft, which is to be discussed with the special secretary, industries, on Monday, has raised concerns of industrialists, who feel that its implementation would adversely impact the future of lakhs of people in the city. 

Secretary of Agra Development Foundation (ADF) KC Jain said, “We are also concerned about the beauty of the monument but that doesn’t mean that industries have to be shut down, leaving lakhs of people jobless”. 

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Referring to the Dr Manoranjan Hota Committee report, which clearly states that “local or regional sources of pollution such as from vehicles, construction of roads and buildings, biomass and garbage burning, crematorium, etc, seem to be major contributors of pollution in respect of air quality at Taj Mahal”, Jain said this is the issue that needs to be addressed.

This requires further source apportionment studies and detailed emission inventory within a15-km radius of the Taj Mahal, Jain added. 

The report was prepared by the expert committee, headed by Dr Manoranjan Hota, appointed by the ministry of environment and forests on December 13, 2016. 

Since the industrial sectors have not been found to be the major contributors of pollution of air quality, industries should not suffer on account of any restriction, said Jain. 

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