Body formed to probe Taj tilting
The government of northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has formed a seven-member committee of experts to probe reports that one of the four minarets of the 17th-century monument of love the Taj Mahal is tilting due to drying up of Yamuna river flowing past the heritage site in Agra.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said the committee members would work with Archaeological Survey of India and submit its report in a week.
According to conservationist Navin Piplani, the foundation of the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan 350 years ago, is made of ebony wood and it has been nourished by the moisture from the plenty of water in Yamuna.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But this moisturing is weakening due to dryness of the river and cracks may have developed in the foundation, he said.
Piplani believes that the minarets of the Taj have always been slightly inclined to save the monument from quakes.
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