NEW DELHI, SEPT 1: To save the historic Taj Mahal from being further scarred by industrial pollution, the Supreme Court today directed the Agra district authorities to close down 53 iron foundries in and around the monument.A division bench of Justice S Saghir Ahmad and Justice M Jagannadha Rao, hearing an application moved by Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) against iron foundries, said, ``out of 168, 53 iron foundries which have not agreed to accept gas have to be closed forthwith, if not already closed or shifted.''The bench also directed the District Magistrate (DM) of Agra and the city Superintendent of Police (SP) to ``see that no coal/coke is supplied'' to another 78 cupola-based iron foundries with effect from September 15.Of the rest 37 non-cupola based iron foundries, which had agreed to accept gas from GAIL, eight have made their furnaces natural gas-based. The bench said, ``from September 15, these 29 foundries will have no excuse for not accepting the natural gas from GAIL.``The DMand SP of Agra will take steps to close down these industries by September 15. However, as and when these 29 non-cupola based industries take steps to receive gas, they shall be allowed to function,'' the bench added.The court, in 1996, had ordered shifting of industries from cupola to gas base in the Taj trapezium to save the monument, one of seven wonders of the world, from being suffocated by industrial pollution.
