NGT slams TTZ authority over failing to curb pollution around Taj Mahal

During a recent hearing, the NGT said that although several plans were made long ago to control pollution in the area, none have been properly implemented. The tribunal noted that the deadline for these actions had already passed a long time ago.

The NGT has now asked the chairman of the TTZ authority and the environment secretary of Uttar Pradesh to file a detailed report explaining what steps have been taken so far. The tribunal pointed out that many promised measures—like introducing electric buses, building peripheral highways, and planting trees—still exist only on paper. No real progress has been made on the ground, it said.

Overall, 10,400 square kilometers has been covered by TTZ, which includes five districts of UP and one of Rajasthan, like Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, and Etah—and Bharatpur district in Rajasthan. These districts have been divided into four segments, such as red, orange, green, and white. The Red Zone is dubbed as the most restricted in terms of pollution control.