Date:26/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/26/stories/2003072604181200.htm

National

Taj corridor: SC asks panel to assess impact of monsoon

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 25. The Supreme Court today asked a Central technical committee to assess the damage construction material swept away by monsoon rains could cause to Taj Mahal.

A Bench comprising Justice M.B. Shah and Justice A.R. Lakshmanan passed this order on an application from the Commissioner appointed by the court, Krishan Mahajan, expressing concern that rubbles from the construction site of the Taj corridor project washed away by rainwater were posing danger to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.

He suggested that an inspection of the site be conducted by a panel of experts.

When counsel for the Centre, A.D.N. Rao, informed the Bench that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture had on July 9 constituted a technical committee, the bench asked the committee to assess the damage likely to be caused by the construction work done by governmental agencies at the project site.

The Bench, said that in view of the CBI probe ordered by the court earlier, no further orders were needed to be issued today.