The Supreme court recently pulled up the Agra Development Authority pulled up the Agra Development (ADA) for not conducting any survey on the environmental impact of business activities near the iconic Taj mahal and termed it a “sorry state of affairs”.
The top court said it has to act like a super administrator as the ADA hs failed to do its duty and stayed the operation of notices served for closure of all business activities along the boundary wall of the centuries old monument.
A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S oka asked the NEERI to conduct an environment impact assessment (EIA) based on the latest survey of the business activities especially in the Taj Ganj area within 500 metre from the boundary wall of the iconic monument and submit a report giving suggestion to the court as early as possible.
The top court addressed that the September 26 order for removal of businesses was passed to bring in conformity with a similar order passed earlier in the case of 71 shops which were directed to be rehabilited of the monument.
Also, in reference of the shopkeepers, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi said that these shopkeepers have already registered to have the right to open shop near the periphery of Taj Mahal.
Also, SC signifies some issues and some negative feedback has been given by the tourists and foreigners who are visiting the place and these are mainly :
-As there is already a heavy rush inside this place and the shops increases the crowd in the inner area of the place which makes unsuitable for the tourists.
-Also , the shops are selling the products at inappropriate rates which is also under complain.
Advocate MC Dhingra appearing for the 71 shop owners, said there will be gross violation of earlier top court orders as business activities are going on near the western gate of the monument which is illegal.