NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court that pollution level around Taj Mahal had remained almost constant in the last 15 years and the monument was completely safe. It, however, admitted that quantity of Particulate Matter(PM)-10 at the monument was above the fixed standard.In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by UP’s additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati, the state government informed the court about various measures had been taken by it over the years to protect and preserve the monument and the environment surrounding it. The government filed before the court Comprehensive Environmental Management and Action Plan for maintaining the eco system in Taj Trapezium Zone- a 10,400 sq.km trapezium-shaped area covering the over five districts of UP and one district of Rajasthan . The TTZ comprises over 40 protected monuments including three World Heritage Sites — the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.Placing the data on air quality measured by four monitoring stations around Taj Mahal in the last 15 years, the state government said, “According to the data receives from the year 2002 till 2016, yearly average at all four places of sulpher dioxide(SO2) and nitrogen dioxide(NO2) are almost stable ans in accordance with the notifies ambient air quality standards. Only in industrial area NO2 is more than the standards and on the four places the quantity of PM-10 is more than the standards”.“It is relevant to mention that despite of many times increase in pollution sources(increase in vehicles and other commercial activity) in the past years, there is a slow increase (from 147 microgram percubic meter level in 2002 to 168 level) in teh quantity of PM-10 at Taj Mahal,” the affidavit said.The state filed its response in compliance to SC order directing it to place the comprehensive plan to protect the 17th century monument. The court has been monitoring the case for the last 31 years after it was contended that growing pollution level in the city posed serious danger to Taj and it had passed series of order including restraining authorities not to cut down any tree without its permission in TTZ.Giving deatails of the measures taken by the it, the state governemnt told the court that there was a complete ban on using coal and coke in industrial units TTZ and all factories were running on natural gas/LPG. It further said that people were being persuaded not to use wood/kanda for cooking and gas companies had provided more than 1.5 lakh connection people living in slums in teh districts of Agra, Mathura and Ferozabad.“Regional transport department is not doing registration of the vehicles older than 15 years and running of such vehicles which are more than 15 years old is completely banned in TTZ. Auto Rickshaw/School Buses/Commercial vehicles running through diesel/petrol have been converted into CNG and proper monitoring is done so that the aforesaid vehicle should not run through petrol/diesel in any manner. Unobstructed power supply is being ensured in Agra by which air pollution generated from generator is reduced.,” it said.“In the radius of 500 m of Taj Mahal there is restriction on to and fro of the vehicles running with diesel/petrol. Only the vehicles of the local residents are permitted for the entry for which the entry passes are issued to the local residents by transport department for the stipulated time period. RTO has issued just 1766 passes(cars-447, bike-1319) for entry in radius of 500 metre from TajMahal,” it said.The government said that it was considering to frame a mico-level plan with the the help of experts and professional institutions for protection and preservation of the monument. “It is respectfully submitted that the state is fully committed to protect environment and ensure sustainable development specifically in and around the Taj Trapezium Zone(TTZ). State further undertakes to follow environmental law and all the orders of this Court diligently and faithfully to ensure balance of eco system of the TTZ,” it said.