Taj Mahal Preservation & Restoration: Supreme Court Slams Centre, UP Government Over Vision Document, Says 'One Authority Needs to Take Charge'

New Delhi, July 26: The Supreme Court on Thursday yet again slammed the Centre as well as the Yogi Government in Uttar Pradesh for filing a vision document on the restoration of Taj Mahal. "Why have you filed a draft? Are we supposed to correct it," asked the apex court while hearing the case today. The UP government had filed a vision document on Taj Mahal last week. 

During the hearing, the court observed that a vision document was prepared without even consulting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).  Justice Madan B Lokur observed, "There has to be one authority which takes charge. It seems that authorities have washed their hands off the Taj. We are in a situation where a vision document is prepared without the involvement of the ASI."

"Something is said on affidavit, something else is said orally, something else is going on behind the back; Very very difficult to accept," Justice Lokur said.

The court has asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to identify specific officers and authority in charge of maintenance of the Taj Mahal and the redevelopment of the Taj Trapezium Zone.

According to reports, the Uttar Pradesh government had in March 2018 signed an agreement with the School of Planning and Architecture to prepare the draft of vision document within four months, as per the directives of the Supreme Court. The institution was sanctioned Rs 76 lakh for the purpose.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had expressed anguish over the state government’s failure to come out with a vision document to save the marble monument. "Either we will shut down the Taj or you demolish or restore it," the court had told Centre while hearing a petition seeking proper maintenance of the monument that figures in the Seven Wonders Of The World.

The court also said that the Taj was more beautiful than the Eiffel Tower and could have solved the country's foreign exchange problems. "Eighty million go to watch Eiffel Tower which looks like a TV Tower. Our Taj is more beautiful. If you had looked after it your foreign exchange problem would have been solved," the apex court had said.

"Do you realise the loss cost to the country due to your apathy? There are so many monuments," the court had added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2018 11:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).