Agra: In a big relief for officials of Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Authority have concluded that the pollution caused by the industry isn’t reaching the Taj Mahal.

Officials of the authority held a meeting on Monday where a recent study done by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to gauge pollution level in Firozabad was discussed. It was finally concluded that fumes from Firozabad’s glass industry are not polluting the 17th century monument.

The report will now be sent to the Union Ministry for environment and forest seeking further instructions. Source said there was a strong possibility that Firozabad might be taken out of the TTZ’s purview in future as industrial activity here does not affect the world heritage monument. In such a scenario, permission for expanding the industry here might also be granted, they added.

The study by NEERI to gauge pollution level in Firozabad revealed that the levels of harmful PM10 and PM2.5 have exceeded the minimum level by double on a daily basis while nitrogen dioxide had crossed the basic level by more than two and a half times. The report, however, also added that the pollutants did not reach the vicinity of the monument or impacted it directly. The aforementioned chemicals are said to be present in the region due to the bustling glass and bangle industry in the area.

The study was initiated after a group of industrialists raised the issue of a ban by the TTZ Authority on starting any new glass unit in the district. The industrialists wanted more supply of natural gas for their units.

The study was conducted at three places in the city to note down the levels of PM10 and its sources. It was revealed that at Raja Ka Taal, which has the majority of glass factories, the contribution of glass industries is 40%, burning of waste (21%) and DG set emission was at 17% for PM10, while at Tilak Nagar, road dust amounted to 33%, followed by domestic burning (25%), and glass industries (10%). At DIC, burning of garbage amounted to 49%, road dust was at 15% and glass industry amounted to 12%. The overall source contribution of glass industries to PM10 is found to be 20% on an average, the study stated.

As the study stated that smoke from diesel-run generators and vehicles are having a greater impact on the city, divisional commissioner Chandrakant, who is also Chairman of TTZ Authority, has directed the UP Pollution Control Board and other departments to prepare short as well as long term plans to curtail pollution levels not only in Firozabad, but also in Agra.

Source: The Times of India

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