The sparkling Taj Mahal has always remained the pride of India, prompting millions of tourists to flock in and admire the beauty every year. However, the beauty of the monument is probably deteriorating.
A few sections of the beautiful-white exterior of the monument are gradually turning green. While such changes in the monument are usually seen in monsoons and summers, this time, the pearly-white exterior of the Taj Mahal deteriorates in winter too.
What could be the reason behind this color change?
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is of the view that the main cause of this color change is "Goeldichironomus".
The goeldichironomus is actually a species of insect that stores its droppings on the marble surface of the Taj Mahal.
What does the insect do?
The insect was spotted in the year 2015 for the very first time. The Goeldichironomus actually leaves stains of green and dark brown color on the marble exterior of the monument along with the inlay work. It is in the polluted waters of the Yamuna River where the insect breeds, as said by the ASI official. As per the official, the breeding season of the insect is March-April and September-October.
How to deal with the issue?
In order to deal with the issue and find an appropriate solution, this month, the Archaeological Survey of India has started a study that may last a year.
On Tuesday, Rajkumar Patel, the superintending archaeologist expressed that this issue is not new. The man expresses that in reality, the insect issue has been there since the year 2015, but not in the year 2020, when the lockdown lowered the pollution levels.
In 2023, the insect has been there in huge numbers. Additionally, the insect is still breeding, even if there has been a drop in the temperature recently due to the winter season, said Patel.
Patel's observation also says that by the end of October in previous years, the insect actually disappeared. These insects choose to take brief flights away from moisture and water during mating time. Additionally, the north wall is the worst impacted.
What has the ASI done so far?
In order to get rid of the stains, the ASI has been washing them with the help of distilled water. It has been using cotton cloth to rub the stains off. However, the insect chooses to reappear at the time of its breeding season, as expressed by the ASI official.
Patel says that the chemical department of ASI is conducting a detailed study on the ways to cease the growth of the insects on the surface of the monument. He further stated that this is not a problem that can be seen uniformly on all the surfaces of the Taj Mahal but is restricted to only its riverside face.
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What do other professionals have to say?
Mr. Sharad Gupta, an environmentalist and doctor based in Agra, expressed that the solution to the issue is to increase the flow of water in Yamuna. He also urged to reduce the levels of pollution in the river, as high pollution levels give an ideal environment for these insects to breed behind the monument.
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