Taj's structural stability under review

Agra, Dec 31 (ANI): Officials of the Survey of India visited Taj Mahal to review the structural stability of the minarets after major cracks appeared on the walls of India's historical monument.

Director General of Survey of India, U N Mishra on Friday said their team was examining the monument and will submit the report within six months.

"There were some reports in the newspapers, which raised concerns over the security of Taj Mahal, so following those reports; the Supreme Court asked an answer from the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), so the ASI approached us to study the monument. We have been studying the monument from a long time," said Mishra.

The officials of the ASI began the examination of the monument last month, following the directions given by the Apex Court after media reports emerged questioning the weakening of the foundation of the Taj Mahal.

Mishra added that there are concerns about the foundation of the monument and they are carrying out deformation study to find out the present status.

"There are concerns about the foundation. There are reports that the foundation is of wood or whale foundation. So we are carrying out deformation study, which will help in finding out what is the present status," said Mishra.

Archaeologists are also concerned about iron clamps that rusted over the years.

However, Secretary of Federation of Travel Association, Sandeep Arora, said that water is the life of the monument and that is the reason why the monument is constructed on the bank of the Yamuna River.

"Papers show and what we have heard from our elders is that the water is the life of this monument and there was a specific reason because of which Taj Mahal was constructed on the banks of Yamuna River because only water can save this monument," said Arora.

Earlier this year, a British daily suggested that the Taj Mahal could collapse in the next five years due to receding water levels in the Yamuna River and due to the rotting of the foundation of the structure.

The report came after a group of historians, environmentalists and politicians said cracks were visible in parts of the tomb and the four surrounding minarets. (ANI)