Agra: The Indian tourist's infamous inability to stick to discipline has taken away yet another privilege. And this time it has left him without shoe covers at the Taj Mahal At the monument in Agra on Monday, one could see dozens of tourists hopping barefoot on the hot marble floor of the mausoleum, some of them carrying slippers in their hands. Many didn't bother to take off their footwear.One of the attendants posted at the Taj Mahal told TOI that he used to provide shoe covers to those who paid Rs 40 as entrance fee, mostly Indians, and foreigners who have to shell out Rs 1000. "But this service to Indian tourists has been stopped," he said. "They don't follow proper instructions and when anyone tries to warn them, there is always an argument with the staff. Instead of putting the shoe covers in designated bins, Indian tourists often litter the adjacent parks with it.”The attendant added, “Keeping in mind the bad behaviour of Indian ticket holders, the service of providing free of cost shoe covers has been stopped. Currently, shoe covers are only provided to VIP visitors, who get them along with their tickets or from machines installed at entry points of the main mausoleum.”A senior official denied reports of unavailability of shoe covers for those with the Rs 40-tickets and insisted the service is on. ASI superintending archaeologist Bhuvan Vikrama also claimed the facility continues for "all tourists".ASI had begun the facility some six months back, but due to the misuse of shoe covers by Indian tourists the service was soon stopped. Though there are also private vendors who sell the covers, many Indian tourists mostly refuse to buy them.Government approved tourist guide Monika Sharma said, “There should be proper arrangements made for all tourists, whether Indian or foreigners. If tourists are not able to wear the shoe covers properly and are littering the premises, stringent action must be taken, but the service should be continued.” Another tourist guide, Qurban, blamed officials for the abrupt end to the facility and said they have taken the easy way out.“Tickets prices were increased from Rs 20 to Rs 40 recently, but that should come with shoe covers. Or there should be mats on the white marble floor so that the tourists do not have to walk on the burning stone" Qurban added.