To protect Taj Mahal, Supreme Court orders crematorium to be shifted away from monument

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the government of Uttar Pradesh to shift a crematorium located near the Taj Mahal to protect the iconic monument from being affected by smoke. The court was acting on a letter from a Supreme Court judge that the white marble mausoleum was under threat of pollution due to smoke and soot emanating from the crematorium. [caption id=“attachment_1814493” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Taj Mahal. Reuters[/caption] The Indian Express reports that the letter dated 1 October, urging the SC to intervene to protect the historic monument, was written by SC Judge Kurian Joseph. He wrote that the step would be in line with the prime minister’s initiative for a cleaner environment. The court, with a special bench of Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan, said Monday that the state government could consider shifting the crematorium away from the monument, or install an electric crematorium. Uttar Pradesh government’s Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh told the court that he will return with a solution in two weeks, reports The Indian Express. The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. With inputs from AP