Oh No Taj! Why is Agra's Taj Mahal turning green again?

A global tourist destination, the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world, drawing millions of visitors annually. One can’t help but notice the 17th-century monument’s ever-changing moods as people flock to have a close-up look at it. The famous monument in Agra, which was first constructed out of white Makrana marble, is losing its shine… again. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is in charge of the monument’s conservation and upkeep, is concerned about the recurrence of green-coloured stains on the Taj Mahal. To find preventative measures, the agency is currently conducting a comprehensive year-long study. Pearly-white Taj Mahal turns green, again… “Greening of the Taj Mahal is a recurring phenomenon. However, this year, it occurred in October, which is strange. Another strange thing is despite the remedial measures, the greening took place again in November, which is worrisome,” CNBC-TV18 quoted Raj Kumar Patel, superintending archaeologist, Agra Circle, ASI as saying. The brown-green stains on the floral motifs and the embossed stonework on the structural wall are, according to ASI, caused by the poop of a Goeldichironomus insect species. According to Patel, the spots appear on the north face of the monument that faces the Yamuna River. “This is not a uniform problem,” he stated, as per The Times of India. It is limited to the riverbank face of the Taj. The stains on the monument were initially discovered in 2015 and removed using a mudpack. The officials dismissed the event as a one-time problem. With the exception of 2020, when pollution levels in Agra were relatively low, it has been resurfacing biannually. According to him, the chemical branch of the ASI came up with a method to remove these stains that involved wiping them off with distilled water and then rubbing the area with a fresh cotton cloth. However, a long-term fix for the issue is now required because similar stains are showing up every year. The need for a long-term solution Patel stated that the Chemical Branch of the ASI is conducting an extensive study to determine the conditions around the insect’s multiplication, its breeding cycle, and how to keep it from harming the Taj Mahal. According to the ASI, the insects normally emerged in the Yamuna between the months of March-April and September-October, when the temperature was between 28 and 35 degrees. Patel says, as per TOI, the insect has been plentiful this year and “is still breeding, despite a drop in temperature.” “In previous years, the insects disappeared by October-end. These insects prefer to take short flights away from the water while they mate. North wall is the worst-affected.” Other possible solutions According to the report, Agra-based doctor and environmentalist Sharad Gupta said, “The solution to this problem is to increase the water flow in the Yamuna and reduce the pollution levels in the river, which is giving these insects an ideal environment to breed behind the Taj.” The president of the Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber, meanwhile, blamed the stalled Taj Barrage construction project for the increase in pollution levels in the Yamuna, saying that if it had been finished, it might have had control over the situation, India Today reported. He suggested building a barrage downstream from the Taj Mahal to assure free-flowing water and avoid bug reproduction, which typically occurs in stagnant water, or dredging the Yamuna to enhance its depth.