Supreme Court orders demolition of Taj parking lot

The Supreme Court ordered the demolition of a multi-level parking lot being constructed in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal, days before Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is slated for a visit.

The bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta passed the order when it was alleged that the construction of the parking lot – which is within a one-kilometre radius near the eastern gate, would create an environmental hazard and potentially harm the 17th century mausoleum.

The court was hearing a petition filed by UP's tourism department seeking permission to cut down 15 trees for the construction of the parking lot. However, in a turn of events environmentalist MC Mehta, who has filed a petition seeking protection for the famed structure, submitted that the state government had failed to take prior approval from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Supreme Court before construction was initiated.

At the time of the hearing, counsel for UP was absent and hence unable to refute the allegations following which the order was passed. However, later in the day when UP standing counsel Aishwarya Bhatti raised the matter before the bench seeking a recall of the order, she submitted that all permissions were in place and there was no illegality in the matter. The court then asked her to move an appropriate restoration application in this regard.

In the run up to Adityanath's visit, the mausoleum became the eye of the storm with MLA Sangeet Som's controversial description of the Taj as a blot on Indian culture.

To promote tourism around the Taj, the state government had planned an orientation centre near the premises that would provide facilities to tourists costing around Rs 231 crore.

Other steps

The state government had planned an orientation centre near the site for tourists. It cost around Rs 231 crore.