‘Multani mitti’ comes
to the rescue of the monument
A kind of mud
therapy is being used on the Taj Mahal as the white marble structure is
changing colour, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after members
voiced concern over the maintenance of the world famous monument.
Culture
Minister Mahesh Sharma said efforts are also being made to reduce the impact of
insects on the 17th century monument.
During
question hour, members voiced concern over the maintenance of the Taj Mahal,
while referring to change in the colour of the marble structure and the damage
caused by insects.
Mr
Sharma said a kind of mud therapy, involving application of a paste of ‘multani
mitti’, was being undertaken to preserve the colour of the monument.
It has
been applied on three-fourths of the structure and is “showing results”, he
added.
Upkeep
report
He
said that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has
also submitted a report about the upkeep of the Taj.
To
another question, Mr Sharma said the irrigation department had proposed
creating a barrage to raise the water level of the Yamuna which has been
approved by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Now it
is for the state government of Uttar Pradesh to take a further action, the
Minister said.
Source: THE HINDU-6th April,2017
