NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine revamping of Taj Trapezium Zone Authority, a high-powered committee entrusted with the task of curbing pollution in a 10,400 sq km area around the Taj Mahal , saying the body had been a "complete flop" in carrying out its duties.

An eight-member TTZ Authority was set up in 1998 by the Centre with Agra zone commissioner heading it. The other seven members were representatives from Archaeological Survey of India, Central Pollution Control Board, UP State Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Deputy Inspector General of Police from Agra range and Vice-Chairman of Agra Development Authority.

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) covers the five districts of Agra region. The TTZ comprises 40 protected monuments including three World Heritage Sites - Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The Authority was given the task to monitor progress of implementation of schemes for protection of Taj Mahal and protection and improvement of the environment in the TTZ area.

As the increasing pollution level emerged as a biggest threat to Taj Mahal, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta decided to examine a plea for overhauling of the Authority after noted environmentalist and lawyer M C Mehta contended that it should not be headed by government official, but an independent person.

Agreeing to examine the issue, the court asked the UP government to take a stand on it. Attorney General K K Venugopal and additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, said the state had no objection and the government would file response.

