Team Herald
NEW DELHI: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 857.26 crore plan for 15 years to save the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, to tackle pollution in the river Yamuna and tackle Agra’s decaying sewerage system.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the executive of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on Tuesday, which was attended by Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The major components of the project include cleaning of 61 drains, construction of 13 sewerage treatment plants and renovation of two existing plants, renovation of sewage pumping station and maintenance of facilities for 15 years to reduce the pollution load from Agra into the Yamuna which will help to save the Taj Mahal, an official said.
The same Yamuna also passed through Delhi which will too benefit from other projects on the river upstream that include sewerage scheme for Himachal’s Paonta town, home to the renowned Paonta Saheb Gurdwara situation on the banks of the Yamuna.
Another Rs 716 crore were sanctioned for various Namami Gange projects in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.
