ASI shoots down Maya’s Taj plan

Yet another mega project in the name of promoting tourism around the Taj Mahal has run into trouble with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opposing a plan for a ropeway behind the monument.

The project to build a ropeway, a suspension bridge across the Yamuna river and a giant ferris wheel for an aerial view of the Taj was drawn up by the Agra Development Authority (ADA) without ASI or Supreme Court (SC) clearance. The ADA is controlled by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The SC-appointed Dr S Varadarajan Committee has recommended that there should be no tampering with physical settings around  heritage monuments.

ASI superintending archaeologist AR Siddiqui said: “We will not allow such projects in the vicinity of the Taj. Guidelines need to be followed. They (ADA) have not asked us for clearance or no objection certificate. ADA vice-chairman Tanvir Zafar Ali even claimed that the DG ASI was in agreement with his projects. The question does not arise.”

Ali, while announcing the project, had also spoken about his discussions with SC amicus curiae Krishna Mahajan and his reported agreement to the ropeway.

However, Krishna Mahajan said : “Ali met me and I told him to get SC clearance first and then talk about the project. I never agreed. I am in fact surprised how he has gone on record saying the SC would approve of the project.”

Mahajan, who is assisting the apex court in matters relating to the Taj Mahal, will  draw the court’s attention to  the arbitrary and mindless decisions of the Mayawati government.