"When thousands of tourists invade the serene monument every day, leaving behind hand and foot marks on the white stones and tonnes of noxious gases through breathing, the cumulative affect on the fragile structure is huge. Only a few tourists are genuinely aware of the historic significance of the monument and its great heritage value, there are hordes of others who care nothing for the sanctity of the Taj," Rajeev Tiwari, president of the Tourism and Travel Agents Association, told IANS.
Each Friday, when the mausoleum is closed for tourists, the Muslim faithful are allowed free entry to offer prayers.
During the annual Urs of emperor Shah Jahan, the entry is free for three days and the number exceeds 50,000 daily.
A visit to the Taj was "almost like a spiritual journey to a shrine".
The ASI has restored the Mehtab Bagh at the rear of the Taj Mahal and the state forest department has developed a dense green buffer along the river bank on the opposite side.
But the major problem is the Yamuna, which has been reduced to a "sewage canal".
However, conservationists are skeptical whether this small patch of green can insulate the Taj from the high SPM level at the peak of the summer.
