tAJ...MUD PACK TREATMENT

The mudpack therapy to clean up the Taj Mahal had not yielded desired results and the Taj Mahal continued to look yellowish as "before."

This was stated by members of a team from Mumbai University that participated in the unique three-day international tournament to test the scientific skills and competence level of university students in solving community problems through innovative presentations.

Is the Taj Mahal turning yellow? Will the frequent mudpack therapy by the Archaeological Survey of India help? These were questions that the silver medal winning Indian team, from Mumbai's Somaya College, were asked to answer in their research presentation at the International Scientific Tournament.

Talking to IANS, members of the team Rashmi Thakur, Arushi Pandya, Priyanka Joshi, Neeraja Kolhatkar, Suryakant Nagar, said "currently the government agencies approach the problem using a so called mud pack method which has significant disadvantages. We have proposed new methods for remaining yellow stains and provide long term solutions to the pollution problem."

Our first suggestion is: TiO2-based nano coating to repel U/V rays, reduce accumulation of dirt, with self cleaning photo-induced effects. Titanium Oxide is a cheap material available in India and is both durable and safe for delicate surfaces.

We have suggested that all around the Taj Mahal, buildings of hotels could use modified glass for trapping particulate matter from ambient air.

An artificial lake close to the Taj Mahal could be developed to culture microbes designed to control and absorb sulphur dioxide. Certain bacterias use sulphur as energy source.

The team members in their presentation suggested installation of smog towers in the vicinity. "A single tower could clean up 3.5 billion metres of air."

Finally, the ASI's horticulture department could experiment with artificial trees that soak up CO2, 1000 times more efficiently and there is no requirement of photosynthesis as leaves are coated with resin . The CO2 captured can be stored and recycled. The initial cost is around 20,000 dollars but costs could come down if production increased, members told IANS.

But the most important and urgent requirement was water in the dry river Yamuna at the rear of the Taj Mahal, they added.