Environmetlists oppose move to shrink eco-zone near Taj

Agra, July 1 : Local environmentalists on Wednesday again voiced their opposition to the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to reduce the eco-sensitive zone limit around Sur Sarovar or Keetham Lake from ten km to just 250 metres. In an unimous resolution passed at a conference held at Youth Hostel Hall in the city, the green brigade warned of dangerous consequences of what it called a suicidal step. “The eco-sensitive zone acts as a buffer for the Taj Mahal against toxic gases released by Mathura Refinery. The green belt has halted the march of desert towards Agra. The dense forest also filters dust-laden westerlies going towards Taj Trapezium Zone,” the resolution contended. The green activists have been holding meetings and staging dhars for the past 10 days ever since Divisiol Commissioner Pradip Bhatgar asked District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar to forward to the state government a proposal to reduce the forest area on the Agra-Delhi tiol highway.   (ians)