Assessing the Conservation Needs of the Taj Mahal

Abstract

The conservation of the Taj Mahal in India has been a matter of great concern to the entire world. This anxiety has related particularly to the establishment of the nearby Mathura Oil Refinery, which it was feared would have a serious effect on the white marble of the Taj. Over time, the marble has acquired a yellowish appearance and cracks have appeared at several places in the marble slabs. In addition, black spots have also been seen on these slabs, together with damage to the edges, destruction of the joints, and pitting of the surface. Alarmed by these observations and by false rumours that the Taj Mahal would soon tumble down, the government of India appointed a Scientific Expert Committee to study the situation and submit its report. The author, as Director of the Scientific Committee, studied these problems in detail and gave his recommendations. This group came to the conclusion that atmospheric pollution plays a very minimal role and that there were several other factors attributing to changes in the appearance of the monument. This paper presents the results of these studies and makes recommendations for future action.