Viewing Tajmahal by night still a daydream
Vijay Upadhyay, Agra
It earns over Rs 12 crore per year from the Toll Tax imposed on the Taj Mahal, but the Agra Development Authority (ADA) is not ready to fund the mandatory security arrangements to enable night viewing of the Taj Mahal, considered as its "Golden Goose".
Following the Supreme Court directives regarding enhancing the Taj security for night viewing, the Agra Police had sent a proposal for the one-time purchase of hi-tech security equipment worth Rs. 3.5 crore, which includes state-of-the-art body scanners, to be funded from the Toll Tax obtained from the tourists by the ADA. But, instead of funding the security arrangements, the ADA has now decided to "fight it out" with the police, claiming that the Taj security does not classify under "Tourist Welfare" and the "Taj Heritage Fund" is strictly meant for tourist welfare, according to the Supreme Court directives.
Talking to The Pioneer on Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police, Agra, Rajkumar Vishwakarma said that the Agra Police has sent its security requirements to the state Home Department and has been proposed that the funding for the one-time purchase of the security equipment be provided by the ADA from the over Rs 12 crore earned by the authority every year as Toll Tax on the monument.
"When the authority is earning such a huge amount from the tourists and there is a provision of spending 10 per cent of the funds for the sake of tourist security, which clearly implies the ADA should not have any monetary constraints for funding the Taj security, why is not willing to fund the security arrangements which could help transform the entire tourism scene of Agra," asked the SSP.
When contacted regarding the demands placed by the Agra Police, ADA Secretary Vijay Yadav said that the Supreme Court has issued instructions for "judicious" use of the "Taj Heritage Fund" solely for tourist welfare and the funds obtained from tourists as Toll Tax cannot be spent for Taj Security as it does not classify under the category of "Tourist Welfare". "It is a common belief among the other departments that the ADA is earning a great deal from the Taj Mahal but in reality, this money is spent entirely for tourist welfare and the ADA is not willing to share it with any other department, which could squander it away," said Mr Yadav.
Talking to The Pioneer on this dispute, Agra Commissioner Dr Ashok Kumar said that this issue had been raised in the meeting with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary VK Mittal held in Lucknow on October 15 and it was decided that the funding for the Taj security shall be arranged by the state Home Department and the demand raised by the Agra Police for the funding from the "Taj Heritage Fund" is totally unnecessary.
But the question still remains that if this un-cooperative attitude continues among the Uttar Pradesh state departments, will the Taj ever be opened at night?
It earns over Rs 12 crore per year from the Toll Tax imposed on the Taj Mahal, but the Agra Development Authority (ADA) is not ready to fund the mandatory security arrangements to enable night viewing of the Taj Mahal, considered as its "Golden Goose".
Following the Supreme Court directives regarding enhancing the Taj security for night viewing, the Agra Police had sent a proposal for the one-time purchase of hi-tech security equipment worth Rs. 3.5 crore, which includes state-of-the-art body scanners, to be funded from the Toll Tax obtained from the tourists by the ADA. But, instead of funding the security arrangements, the ADA has now decided to "fight it out" with the police, claiming that the Taj security does not classify under "Tourist Welfare" and the "Taj Heritage Fund" is strictly meant for tourist welfare, according to the Supreme Court directives.
Talking to The Pioneer on Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police, Agra, Rajkumar Vishwakarma said that the Agra Police has sent its security requirements to the state Home Department and has been proposed that the funding for the one-time purchase of the security equipment be provided by the ADA from the over Rs 12 crore earned by the authority every year as Toll Tax on the monument.
"When the authority is earning such a huge amount from the tourists and there is a provision of spending 10 per cent of the funds for the sake of tourist security, which clearly implies the ADA should not have any monetary constraints for funding the Taj security, why is not willing to fund the security arrangements which could help transform the entire tourism scene of Agra," asked the SSP.
When contacted regarding the demands placed by the Agra Police, ADA Secretary Vijay Yadav said that the Supreme Court has issued instructions for "judicious" use of the "Taj Heritage Fund" solely for tourist welfare and the funds obtained from tourists as Toll Tax cannot be spent for Taj Security as it does not classify under the category of "Tourist Welfare". "It is a common belief among the other departments that the ADA is earning a great deal from the Taj Mahal but in reality, this money is spent entirely for tourist welfare and the ADA is not willing to share it with any other department, which could squander it away," said Mr Yadav.
Talking to The Pioneer on this dispute, Agra Commissioner Dr Ashok Kumar said that this issue had been raised in the meeting with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary VK Mittal held in Lucknow on October 15 and it was decided that the funding for the Taj security shall be arranged by the state Home Department and the demand raised by the Agra Police for the funding from the "Taj Heritage Fund" is totally unnecessary.
But the question still remains that if this un-cooperative attitude continues among the Uttar Pradesh state departments, will the Taj ever be opened at night?
Comments