Agra: RTI has revealed that it will take nine long years for the Archaeological Survey of India to complete the mudpack therapy on the outer marble surface of the Taj Mahal to remove the yellowness layer which is caused due to air pollution.
The Parliament Standing Committee on Environment in April had directed ASI to submit an interim action plan for restoration of the Taj. The RTI has further confirmed that the chemical cleaning will have to be repeated once in every 6-7 years if pollution is not reduced.
The RTI reverted that, “ clay pack method is being used presently to remove harmful surface deposits from the marble surface. This method is considered safe as it involves minimal use of chemicals and almost no mechanical efforts”.
The RTI reply added that scientific studies and research would be continued for the effective monitoring of the conservation efforts. This will also help modify the existing treatment methodology or to develop better formulation and advanced conservation methods, it said.
