Supreme Court removes ban on industrial construction in Taj Trapezium Zone, Agra welcomes move.

Source – indiatoday.in

The Supreme Court lifted its earlier interim order imposing a complete ban on construction, industrial activities and felling of trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).

The Supreme Court bench allowed the industrial units, which do not spread pollution but are in compliance in rules, to function. They should also have a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Environment, the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court bench said that heavy industries will continue to be banned in the same way.

Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by environmentalist MC Mehta pertaining to the protection of Taj Mahal, the fragile ecosystem surrounding it and construction in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), an “eco-sensitive area” having four world heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked Taj Trapezium zone (TTZ) on March 22, 2014 to maintain the status quo, due to which many units had to stop work. However, the present order said that the ban on heavy industries will still continue.

The TTZ, established on December 30, 1996 to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution through an order of Supreme Court is a 10,400 sq km area spread across the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

The UP government had requested the Supreme Court that the ban was only till the vision document for the preservation of Taj Mahal was ready, which was introduced six months ago and was accepted by the court.

In the Supreme Court, the UP government also said that due to the order of May 22, 2014, many schemes have been stalled in the TTZ. Due to this, the work of many units in this zone was stopped despite being non-polluting.

Now, TTZ authorisation can approve to set up Payjal Aaporti Yojna, Sewer Sewerage Treatment Plant, Medical Waste Disposal and Garbage Plant.

REACTIONS

Reacting to the judgment, Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber president Prahlad Agarwal said, “TTZ was built on May 30, 1979 to save the world heritage site Taj Mahal.”

“TTZ area is spread over 1,400 square kilometers. TTZ was built on May 30, 1979 to save the world heritage Taj Mahal. 10,400 square meters of this area extends to Agra-Mathura-Firozabad-Eta Hathras in the UP and Bharatpur in Rajasthan,” Prahlad Agarwal told IndiaToday.in

Agra’s MP, SP Singh Baghel told IndiaToday.in that many public representatives had “tried to remove it from many forums, but the problem of setting up industry in TTZ overcame as soon as the BJP government came”.

Rajkumar Chahar, MP of Fatehpur Sikri said that it was “difficult to establish Udyok in TTZ due to restrictions”.

“Now, the problem of the entrepreneurs will be solved and it is a matter of happiness that this work is going to be completed in the Modi government,” Rajkumar Chahar said.