Taj Mahal to become plastic-free on World Environment Day

Taj Mahal’s surrounding areas might soon be plastic-free, as part of the Taj Mahal Declaration. This World Environment Day, plastic pollution is looking to become passé in and around the historic Taj Mahal. The 17th century structure is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and is visited by numerous tourists from across the world. In recent times the Taj Mahal has been turning yellow, as Agra struggles with the problem of pollution.
The Taj Mahal Declaration has been adopted by Mahesh Sharma, Minister of Culture and Tourism and Civil Aviation; Erik Solheim, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and actor Diya Mirza, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador. The declaration has been put in place with the aim to rid Agra of plastic, as this year’s World Environment Day theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma stressed on the fact that excessive use of plastic is one of the prime problems leading to increased pollution in the world. He said in a statement, “It is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve ‘Swachh Bharat’. It is an appropriate occasion to spread his message from the Taj Mahal to reduce plastic use, re-use, recycle, re-collect, re-design and re-manufacture it and to demonstrate our commitment to reduction of pollution caused by plastic.”