LUCKNOW: After the Supreme Court's tough talk on preservation of the Taj Mahal, the UP government has decided to submit a draft vision document on restoration and preservation of the monument before July 31.
The Supreme Court of India had on Wednesday expressed deep anguish over poor upkeep of the Taj Mahal and asked the government "either to restore the pristine beauty of the monument or demolish it". The court had also expressed its concern over state government's failure to present a vision document to save the Taj, one of the seven wonders of the world.
As per highly placed sources in the department of tourism, the draft would be submitted before July 31, the deadline set by the apex court. "The School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, is giving final touches to the document," said a senior official of the department.
The UP government had signed an agreement with the School of Planning and Architecture in March 2018, engaging it to prepare the draft within four months, as per the directives of the Supreme Court. The institution was sanctioned Rs 76 lakh for the purpose.
The apex court had taken the Central and state governments to task for adopting a 'lethargic approach' towards the preservation and restoration of the iconic monument. The court had called it a "hopeless cause" for both the governments, saying that was why they were not taking any interest in it.
The SC bench had said that it would hear the matter on a day-to-day basis from July 31.