Historical monuments are symbolic of a country's rich culture and past. Ambient air quality that is conducive to the delicate monuments, must be ensured in order to preserve them and protect our national identity
The damage inflicted by increasing levels of pollution is no longer limited to human health, the environment or the economy. Besides creating innumerable challenges for the coming generations, air pollution is threatening to obliterate the illustrious historical monuments in India. Recently, an RTI query revealed that it would take nine long years for the Archaeological Survey of India to complete the mudpack therapy on the outer marble surface of the Taj Mahal to remove yellowness caused due to air pollution. The sheer intensity of the pollution will require the therapy to be repeated every six to seven years in order to save the monument from certain ruin. The seriousness of the issue has prompted the Parliamentary Standing Committee on environment to direct the ASI to submit an interim action plan for the restoration of the Taj.
The Taj is not alone in facing the pollution predicament. The white-marbled lotus Temple in Delhi, an architectural feat of the Baha’i faith, is wilting under the onslaught of pollution. The temple, built in 1986, attracts nearly 4,00,000 visitors every month. But the pristine marble has been fading, despite regular maintenance. The 400-year-old landmark Charminar monument in Hyderabad is facing a similar fate. Incredible quantities of dust, grime and pollution have transformed the once radiant exterior to a sooty appearance.
Unregulated sources of pollution, such as vehicular emissions, burning of trash, rubber and plastic, besides fly ash, a residue of coal combustion are combining together in form of suspended particulate matter to form a complex challenge to the fitness of the monuments. This threat is even more pronounced in the case of marble structures, as the air pollutants react with marble by masking the original colour and lending a yellow hue to the surface. The ASI currently uses the clay-pack method to remove harmful deposits from the marble surface. This method is considered safe as it involves minimal use of chemicals and almost no mechanical efforts, but it is a painstakingly slow process that is now unable to keep up with the pace of pollution.
In order to contain and reverse the harmful impact of pollution on monuments, the Government must ensure that the restoration and preservation efforts for the monuments are technology-based and have a faster implementation period.
For instance, the laser technology based restoration project of the temples of the Acropolis in Athens is an apt example. The temples surrounded by the city of Athens, with a population of four million people, had fallen prey to a film of black crust from car-exhaust fumes, industrial pollution, acid rain and fires.A team of Greek engineers and restorers used an innovative laser technology system to clean the surface of the ancient monuments and in the process were able to uncover colours and ornamentation hidden for decades.
The marble sensitive technology was able to remove the black pollutant layer without discoloring the surface. The technology also enabled the restorers to scan the marble surface with ultra-sound and an infra-red imaging followed by spectroscopy. This helped in providing a clear picture of what art forms lay beneath the black pollutant layer, thereby helping to preserve them.
Besides technology-based conservation efforts, timely intervention is also crucial in achieving early success in the fight against pollution. Various State Government authorities, especially the Government of Uttar Pradesh, can derive inspiration from the initiative taken by the Punjab Government to preserve and protect the Golden Temple in Amritsar from getting irreversibly damaged by pollution. Heavy industries have signified the growth and development of Punjab, but they have also caused a rapid increase in pollution levels. Recognising the latent threat posed by pollution, the Punjab Government moved quickly to protect the Golden Temple by commissioning a study conducted jointly by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
The study concluded that vehicular pollution combined with industrial emissions had discoloured the main building’s facade and the golden plates affixed on the shrine at the Golden Temple. Moving fast on the findings, the Government created a monitoring station at the temple to measure and report high levels of pollution. Steps were also initiated to ban cars older than 15 years old in the direct radius of the templebesides shutting down polluting units in the temple vicinity.
Historical monuments are symbolic of a country’s rich culture and heritage. Ambient air quality that is conducive to the delicate monuments must be ensured in order to preserve them and protect our national identity.