Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

ASI, Taj Hotels sign MoU to preserve Taj Mahal

As a first step towards protecting a large number of heritage monuments in the country, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Taj Group of Hotels on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to preserve and conserve the priceless heritage of Taj Mahal in Agra.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ananth Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Raj Nath Singh and chairman of Tata Group, Ratan N Tata.

Under the Mou, signed by ASI director general Komal Anand and managing director of Indian Hotel Company R K Krishna Kumar, Tatas would provide an initial financial assistance of Rs 19 million to improve gardening, landscaping and ambience of Mughal Garden and such other facilities.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within 15 months.

The Tata Group would engage experts and take the help of reputed Indian and international institutes to carry out extensive studies on the Taj Mahal and its environs in the second phase.

The study would also cover issues such as soil erosion, sedimentation, the high level of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the air around the monument, inconvenient access to the east bank of the Yamuna, formation of ravines and the incursion of the Rajasthan desert.

Tell us what you think of this report