AGRA, DECEMBER 23: After nearly 14 years, Taj Mahal was reopened for moonlight view amid controversies and misunderstandings on Wednesday night.As soon as the gates were opened by the district authorities at 10 p.m., after charging Rs 1,000 from foreigners and Rs 200 from Indians, Supreme Court observer Krishan Mahajan turned up and ordered the closure of the gates saying ``prior clearance'' had to be taken from him.Mahajan said that in his absence, permission had to be sought from the representative of the Agra district judge as arranged by the apex court.The apex court, keeping in view the desire of thousands of tourists to view Taj Mahal in the `brightest moon' in 133 years, yesterday allowed visitors' entry into the historical Mughal monument for three nights.District Magistrate P K Mahanti and SSP S B Singh failed to convince Mahajan about the court directives as he ordered the ticket counters to be sealed.However, the tickets were later allowed to be sold.Even morning visitors had toface inconvenience. They could gain entry by buying tickets from counters on the western and southern gates only.Further, the tourists were told not to venture beyond the red sandstone platform of the main gate, which is 450 metres from the main sepulcher. Since the Taj was enveloped by thick fog, the visitors could neither get the glimpses of the sparkling semi-precious in-lay work on the outer facade of the main building nor the full view because of the fog.Foreign tourists who had come with TV cameramen were deprived from recording the moonlight view. Officials restricted tourists from descending onto the main garden.Some foreign tourists were seen objecting to the price of the entry tickets.The SC observers reached much after the reopening time. By that time, a large number of tourists had gathered at the gates, demanding entry tickets.Mahajan later told waiting newsmen and TV journalists that he had seen the security arrangements, which were to his ``satisfaction''.
