]]> By Brij Khandelwal

Agra, Aug 18 (IANS) With the blatant dumping of civic garbage and carcasses, the land once earmarked for the controversial 80-acre Taj Corridor has now been reduced to an eyesore even as different government agencies blame one another for the mess.

Perched between two World Heritage monuments of the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, it now contains stinking carcasses, graves of children and mounds of rubble that invite mosquitoes, dogs, snakes, crows and vultures – an eyesore that refuses to go away even though Agra is expected to draw a host of Commonwealth Games tourists.

The development of the ambitious corridor development was abandoned in 2003 following protests that it would affect the 17th century Taj Mahal. The matter now lies with the Supreme Court, which has banned any new construction at the site.

There have been numerous petitions and demands submitted to various authorities to clean up the mess.

“They all pass the buck, from the municipal corporation to the Agra Development Authority to the Uttar Pradesh tourism department to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which ends up expressing its helplessness citing court orders,” said Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.

He said the authorities should at least try to clean up the area before the Games in Delhi in October. “This is the period when Agra will get a lot more tourists than the daily average of 7,500,” he said.

Agra Mayor Anjula Singh Mahaur said it was the duty of central government agencies to ensure cleanliness and prevent people from dirtying the corridor till the Supreme Court takes a final decision on the matter.

The ASI asked for funds to remove the debris. The funds never came. It was later suggested that the Uttar Pradesh forest department should take up greening work, but the proposal did not move forward due to want of resources.

“More than 80 acres of the land have turned into a vast graveyard of animals and a dump yard of construction, road building waste and municipal refuse, polluting the river Yamuna,” said Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association.

“Such insensitivity and nonchalance are indeed condemnable,” he said.

Green activist Ravi Singh said: “Right from Delhi to Agra, government agencies and private players have been playing with the land on the flood plains of the river, posing a grave ecological crisis. What the state and central pollution control boards are doing needs investigation.”

Talking to IANS, B.B. Awasthi, regional officer of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, said: “Removing dead bodies and dirt is the work of the Agra Municipal Corporation. We can only issue notices. It is not our job to keep the area clean.”

The land earmarked for the controversial corridor stinks and there is a real danger of diseases spreading from the area in the heart of a tourist hub, says social activist Sisir Bhagat.

The ambitious 2002-03 Taj Heritage corridor project was aimed to house a shopping mall close to the Taj Mahal, but the project was abandoned amid allegations of large-scale corruption and after a hue and cry that it would endanger the monument.

The Rs. 175-crore project that brought down the Mayawati government in 2003 was meant to link the Taj Mahal with four important monuments — the Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daula, Chini-ka-Roja and Rambagh in Agra district.

Now each day scores of foreign tourists visit the site of the controversial project to shoot pictures of the Taj and the Fort from the land earmarked for the corridor.

“The dead bodies of animals and the dirt mounds provide an ugly contrast, juxtaposed against the beautiful Taj,” says photographer Vishal.

(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in)

A large number of SP and RLD workers hit the streets in various districts, particularly Aligarh, Mathura, Mainpuri and Shahjahanpur, and held public meetings to drum up support against the state government's land acquisition policy. ]]> Lucknow, Aug 16 (IANS) Supporting farmers’ demand for higher compensation for their lands acquired for the Yamuna Expressway, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh against the state government.

A large number of SP and RLD workers hit the streets in various districts, particularly Aligarh, Mathura, Mainpuri and Shahjahanpur, and held public meetings to drum up support against the state government’s land acquisition policy.

Thousands of farmers also participated in a Maha Panchayat in the Tappal village of Aligarh district to decide their future course of action against the state government. Leaders of political parties were also invited.

“We are not going to buckle under any pressure from the state government. We would continue to fight for our demands that are primarily related to higher compensation for the farmers’ lands, release of our leader Ram Babu, and a financial relief of Rs.20 lakh for the families of those killed during clashes with the police,” Hari Singh, a farmer, told reporters Monday in Aligarh, some 300 km from Lucknow.

According to state government officials, three people — a policeman, a farmer and a child — died during farmer-police clash in Aligarh Saturday that also led to exchange of fire between police and protesters.

“We are with the farmers and would continue to fight for them. If the state government fails to comply with the demands of the farmers, we would intensify the agitation in the coming days,” SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told reporters here.

In the wake of the violence in Aligarh and Mathura over the week-end, heavy security arrangements have been made there.

The farmers demonstrated Saturday night against inadequate compensation for acquired lands in an area bordering Aligarh and Mathura districts. The protesters were demanding compensation at the rate paid to farmers in Noida and Greater Noida.

“No fresh violence has been reported since the last 15 hours,” District police chief Satyendra Veer Singh told IANS by telephone from Aligarh.

The 165 km-long eight-lane expressway connecting Noida to Agra is aimed at reducing the driving time between New Delhi and Agra to just about 90 minutes. It is expected to make a lot of difference to foreign tourists headed for the city of the Taj Mahal.

Both the houses were adjourned twice, soon after assembling and then till 2 p.m. as protests continued against the killings during demonstrations Saturday night against inadequate compensation for acquisition of land in an area bordering Aligarh and Mathura districts. Land had been acquired for the 165-km long Yamuna expressway between Noida and Agra. ]]> New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Both houses of parliament were repeatedly adjourned Monday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) members protested the killing of two farmers in police firing in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district and demanded a statement by the government.

Both the houses were adjourned twice, soon after assembling and then till 2 p.m. as protests continued against the killings during demonstrations Saturday night against inadequate compensation for acquisition of land in an area bordering Aligarh and Mathura districts. Land had been acquired for the 165-km long Yamuna expressway between Noida and Agra.

The Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon. But the pandemonium continued when the house met again and MPs gathered near Speaker Meira Kumar’s podium to raise the issue, shouting slogans against the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in Uttar Pradesh.

Meira Kumar then adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

The BJP demanded introduction of a new land legislation promising better acquisition for farmers.

“We want the government to table the bill in this session only so that farmers in Uttar Pradesh and all over the country don’t suffer when their land is taken over,” BJP leader Rajnath Singh told IANS outside parliament.

There were similar scenes in the Rajya Sabha too. Opposition members raised the issue twice during zero hour – at 12 noon, and at 12.17 till 2 p.m..

Hundreds of farmers have been protesting to demand higher compensation for land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway and damaged property belonging to Jaypee Associates that is executing the project.

Parts of Aligarh and Mathura districts were rocked by violence Saturday night, leading to exchange of fire between the police and protesters, which left two people dead and a dozen injured.

The 165-km, eight-lane expressway connecting Noida to Agra is aimed at reducing the driving time between New Delhi and Agra to just about 90 minutes. It is expected to make a lot of difference to foreign tourists headed for the Taj Mahal.

The protesters are demanding compensation for the acquired land at the rate paid to farmers in Noida and Greater Noida.

Paying a befitting tribute to the spirit and resilience of the nation, the iconic Taj chose Independence Day to begin a new chapter in its history. ]]> Mumbai, Aug 15 (IANS) Nearly 21 months after the palace wing of the Taj Mahal Palace was destroyed in the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, the restored heritage suites opened their doors to guests Sunday – much grander than ever.

Paying a befitting tribute to the spirit and resilience of the nation, the iconic Taj chose Independence Day to begin a new chapter in its history.

Complete with multimedia systems and an emergency escape route, the wing has now upped its luxury quotient.

Occupying the sixth floor, the property is spread across 5,000-odd square feet. The palace wing will also feature a couple of new accommodation offerings in the form of duplex suites.

Guests in the palace wing will get to experience the attentive and personalised ‘Palace Butler Service’ where the butler will discreetly and efficiently guide them in the hotel.

The Palace Lounge will be a private retreat, exclusively for residents of the palace wing, for a cup of perfectly brewed tea or coffee; an evening cocktail or after hour chocolate and cognac.

High-end technology and interactive multimedia systems at the touch of a button ensure that the guest’s experiences are wired for efficiency and comfort. Taj Club rooms and suites come with chauffeur-driven luxurious Jaguar transfers.

The restaurants have also been renovated, including Sea Lounge and Golden Dragon. The Taj Ballroom, the Harbour Bar and Wasabi by Morimoto are accompanied by inspired cuisine from a team of acclaimed chefs.

Another added feature to the rooms and suites are the special levers that allow guests to open the window in an emergency. Upping the security quotient, special access control elevators are installed on the premises, allowing only guests to operate them with a valid key.

Internationally acclaimed designers like Lissoni Associati from Milan, BAMO from San Francisco, DesignWilkes from Malaysia and James Park Associates from Singapore carried out the extensive restoration of the heritage wing of the hotel.

On December 16, 1903, the Taj opened its doors to its first 17 guests. Over the years, the hotel has played perfect host to maharajas and princes, presidents and legends, performers and world figures, offering them the ultimate in luxury, fine dining and impeccable service.

While the adjacent tower wing was left unscathed in the 26/11 attack, the heritage wing was extensively damaged. It has been repaired at an estimated cost of Rs.175 crore.

Parts of Aligarh and Mathura districts were rocked by violence Saturday night, leading to exchange of fire between the police and protesters, which left two dead and a dozen injured. ]]> Aligarh, Aug 15 (IANS) Hundreds of agitating farmers blockaded a 20-km-stretch of highway here Sunday to demand higher compensation for land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway and damaged property belonging to Jaypee Associates that is executing the project.

Parts of Aligarh and Mathura districts were rocked by violence Saturday night, leading to exchange of fire between the police and protesters, which left two dead and a dozen injured.

On Sunday, despite intensified deployment of armed policemen in both Tappal area in Aligarh district and Naujheel area of Mathura district, the protesting farmers resorted to renewed violence, attacking properties of Jaypee Associates.

The 165 km-long 8-lane expressway connecting Noida to Agra is aimed at reducing the driving time between New Delhi and Agra to just about 90 minutes. It is expected to make a lot of difference to foreign tourists headed for the Taj Mahal.

According to sources in Aligarh, the police had to fire teargas to disperse the protesting farmers from the highway. No casualties were reported Sunday.

Meanwhile, two of the 12 injured were shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment as their condition was stated to be critical.

The protesters are demanding compensation for the acquired land at the rate paid to farmers in Noida and Greater Noida.

Violence erupted Saturday after the arrest of popular local farmers’ leader Ram Babu Katheria, who had been spearheading the agitation for higher compensation.

Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of police Brij Lal told IANS Sunday: “We have cleared the road that was blocked by the protesters, who have gone back to their ‘dharna’ at Tappal village.”

Asked if the government was considering the demand for release of Katheria, he ruled it out.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, speaking to reporters, termed the firing on protesting farmers as “the most barbarous act of the Mayawati government”.

He also demanded compensation of Rs.20 lakh for each of those killed in the firing, adding that the party would raise the issue in parliament.

The hotel, which was opened in stages after the terror strike, is likely to be fully functional by September. On Independence Day, although most of its rooms in the magnificently restored palace wing will accommodate guests, the most luxurious Tata Suite will be reopened in a month. ]]> Mumbai, Aug 13 (IANS) The palace wing at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel just got more royal, with multimedia systems and an emergency escape route too. The heritage suites promise to be grander than ever before as they open their doors to guests Aug 15 for the first time after the 26/11 attacks.

The hotel, which was opened in stages after the terror strike, is likely to be fully functional by September. On Independence Day, although most of its rooms in the magnificently restored palace wing will accommodate guests, the most luxurious Tata Suite will be reopened in a month.

Formerly known as the Presidential Suite, the Tata Suite will have a personalised butler service and will cost Rs.7 lakh a night. This apart, the hotel’s heritage wing has 40 suites, some named after marine life.

“You can ride on a ‘dolphin’, search for ‘coral reefs’ or chase a ’seagull’ for a price ranging from Rs.85,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh,” said Ajoy Misra, senior vice-president (sales and marketing) of Taj hotels.

Guests in the palace wing will experience the attentive and personalised ‘Palace Butler Service’ where the butler will discreetly and efficiently guide guests in the hotel.

The Palace Lounge will be a private retreat; exclusively for residents of the palace wing, for a cup of perfectly brewed tea or coffee; an evening cocktail or after hour chocolate and cognac.

High-end technology and interactive multimedia systems at the touch of a button ensure that the guest’s experiences are wired for efficiency and comfort. Taj Club rooms and suites come with chauffeur-driven luxurious Jaguar transfers.

The restaurants have also been renovated, including Sea Lounge and Golden Dragon. The Taj Ballroom, the Harbour Bar and Wasabi by Morimoto are accompanied by inspired cuisine from a team of acclaimed chefs.

Another added feature to the rooms and suites are the special levers that allow guests to open the window in an emergency. Upping the security quotient, special access control elevators are installed on the premises, allowing only guests to operate them with a valid key.

Ratan Tata, chairman of Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), had in December 2008 said that he will do whatever it takes to restore the “old lady” to its former glory, referring to the Taj hotel.

“When we open the heritage wing and do whatever it takes to get back its old glory; we will send a stronger message – a message that strongly resonates among all of us that we can be hurt, but we cannot be knocked down,” Tata had said.

Internationally acclaimed designers like Lissoni Associati from Milan, BAMO from San Francisco, DesignWilkes from Malaysia and James Park Associates from Singapore carried out the extensive restoration of the heritage wing of the hotel.

On December 16, 1903, the Taj opened its doors to its first 17 guests. Over the years, the hotel has played perfect host to maharajas and princes, presidents and legends, performers and world figures, offering them the ultimate in luxury, fine dining and impeccable service.

While the adjacent tower wing was left unscathed in the 26/11 attack, the heritage wing was extensively damaged. It has been repaired at an estimated cost of Rs.175 crore.

]]> By Brij Khandelwal

Agra, Aug 9 (IANS) The city of the Taj Mahal is set to look greener from the barren wasteland it has been reduced to over the decades.

Inspired by one man’s example of planting trees, now educational institutions, cultural groups, resident welfare associations and other groups are participating in a major plantation drive in the city.

Harvijay Singh Bahia, a shoe exporter and formula car racer, decided to begin tree planting on his own in April. He hired a tractor with a mechanical driller and spent the entire May in the gruelling summer heat, drilling six-foot-deep holes on private land, on school and college campuses, factory premises and “wherever people invited me”, but his condition was that they would look after the saplings “like their own children”.

When the first showers came in early July, the stage was set for a massive sapling plantation drive across the city.

Bahia took up the barren stretch along Mantola nullah on the MG Road. “It took sustained efforts against an ocean of indifference and resources, but today that eyesore has turned green and the thousand-odd plants there are well entrenched and waiting to bloom,” Bahia told IANS.

In just one month, more than 20,000 saplings have been planted in colonies, along open drains, in the Central Hindi Institute campus and St Peter’s College. Dozens of voluntary agencies have joined Bahia in his effort.

The Central Hindi University’s registrar, Chandra Kant Tripathi, told IANS that they were experimenting with planting hundreds of neem saplings on a plot to be developed as a ‘gurukul’.

Principal of the 164-year-old St Peter’s College, Father John Farreira told IANS that they had “already earmarked a big field for a gurukul under the shade of neem, banyan and peepal trees”.

The Amar Ujala group has initiated its own green campaign, planting hundreds of saplings each day in various parts of the city. Till last week, the group had planted 11,964 saplings and its campaign is to continue till Independence Day (Aug 15).

Agra University has also directed its 437 affiliated colleges to plant 100 saplings each and look after them for three years. Registrar Shatrughan Singh said the guidelines had been sent to all the college authorities.

In the S.N. Medical College, Principal K.K. Gupta has been leading the green campaign. National Cadet Corps members have also been planting saplings in different colleges.

A dozen women’s groups and service clubs have pooled in their resources to plant saplings in different areas. The Citizens Council, Agra Vikas Manch, Wake Up Agra, Lions, Rotary, Bharat Vikas Parishad, the residents welfare societies and the cultural and religious bodies in the city are also involved in the drive.

Seeing the all-round enthusiasm, the government too has woken up and joined the efforts.

District Magistrate Amrit Abhijat has announced the ‘Mera Vriksh’ (My Tree) scheme, under which people can deposit Rs.1,100 with the forest department and plant a tree in the Taj Nature Park from Aug 12 in memory of their dear ones.

Divisional Forest Officer P.K. Janu said the department would look after the tree, protect it with a tree guard, give a proper certificate and put a stone plaque, giving details of the donor.

The key feature of the campaign this time is that the saplings are not being planted haphazardly as happened in the past leading to a low survival rate, said Narendra Malhotra, former president of the Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians Societies of India and a keen volunteer.

“Proper planning and a huge database has been prepared, with names of people, locations and categories of saplings planted,” he said.

Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma said: “If this trend continues, not only will Agra’s landscape look greener, but it will emerge as a role model for other cities in India to follow.”

Bahia said he did not intend to merely plant saplings and forget about them.

“I have a record of every sapling and location and will ensure not one dies a premature death for lack of care,” he said.

That’s the green way to go, for sure!

(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in)