ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN UTTAR PRADESH: CONSERVATION OF TAJ

MAHAL & FORESTS

Submitted by:

XXXXXX
Name XXXX
Programme Code BTS
Course Code PTS 5 – Ecology, Environment
and Tourism
Enrollment Number
Address
Regional Centre
Study Centre
Title of the Project Environmental Issues In
Uttar Pradesh: Conservation
Of Taj Mahal & Forests
 LETTER/CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL

I hereby certify that the proposal for the project entitled

Environmental Issues In Uttar Pradesh: Conservation Of Taj
Mahal & Forests“ by ______________________________________
has been prepared after due consultation with me. The
proposal has my approval and has, to my knowledge, the
potential of developing into a comprehensive Project work. I
also agree to supervise the above mentioned Project till its
completion.

(Signature of Supervisor)

Name:
Designation:
Address:
 INTRODUCTION

Uttar Pradesh is endowed with natural wealth in abundance.

This wealth lies hidden below a variety of rocks of
different ages found in lofty mountain ranges of the
Himalayas in the North and Vindhyan ranges in the South. The
diversity of flora and fauna displayed here due to vast
area, big and small rivers, varieties of climatic
conditions, and different kinds of soil are hard to find
elsewhere.

The flora of a region includes all the varieties of plants,

which grow there. Vegetation is the general effect produced
by the growth of some or all these plants. The plains of
Uttar Pradesh have been very rich in natural vegetation,
which has, however, diminished due to wide-ranging needs of
the people. Only a few patches of natural forest are now
found scattered here and there in the plains, while such
forests are extensively found on a very large scale in sub-
mountain and mountain regions, which is in Uttranchal now.

Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests are found in the moist

region of Terai. They grow in regions, which record 100 to
150 cm. of rainfall annually, have an average temperature
between 26-27C and have considerable degree of humidity.
Lower regions have several species interspersed with
Bamboo,Climbers, Cand and ever green shrubs. Main trees are
Sal, Ber, Gular, Jhingal, Palas, Mahua Semal, Dhak, Amla,
Jamun, etc.

Tropical Thorny Forests are mostly found in south-western

parts of the State. Such forests are confined to the areas
which have low annual raunfall (50-70 cms), mean annual
temperature between 25 degreee to 27 degree centegrade and
low humidity (less than 47 percent). Widely scattered thorny
trees, mainly, Babool,Thorny, legumes and Euphorbias are
extensively found here. During rains, short grasses also
grow here. The trees are generally small here forming open
dry forests. Important trees of the region are Phulai,
Khair, Kokke, Dhaman, Danjha, Neem, etc. Various types of
resin and gum are obtained from these trees.

Animals depend on forest not only of food but also for

habitat. The diversity of fauna living in water and land in
the air are found in the State. Some common species found
here are Tiger, Panther, Snow Leopard, Sambhar, Cheetal,
Kastura, Chinkara, Black Deer, Nilgai, Back-brown Bear,
Mountain Goat, Hyena, Hill Dog, Elephant etc. Among the
birds Fowl, Pheasant, Partridge, Florican, Duck, Goose and
Wader are common.

Uttar Pradesh offers an endless array of attractions to the

tourist, by way of monuments, health resorts, mountain
peaks, a wealth of ancient temples and viharas, rich flora
and fauna, fascinating rivers and captivating valleys. Thus
it becomes imperative to protect the Natural and Cultural
Heritage (monuments) of the State.

Forest management in Uttar Pradesh:

The growing realization of increasing environmental

pollution and the role of forests in abating it led to
conserving and extending forests on priority basis in the
state. To protect the hill areas, the Vindhyan and
Bundelkhand regions and the catchment areas of the Chambal
and the Yamuna, to check soil erosion and deforestation, and
encourage afforestation, UP Protection of Trees in Villages
& Hill Areas Act was enacted in 1976. The Social Forestry
Programme was launched in 1979 in UP to meet the fuel-wood,
fodder and small timber needs of the people and to reduce
biotic pressure on forests. Under this scheme, plantations
along roads, canals, railway lines and on community lands
have been undertaken.

Environmental Pollution and Taj Mahal

Environmental pollution spurred by industry and automobiles

has long been observed to be progressively destroying the
Taj Mahal's white marble surface. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has identified Agra as a “pollution
intensive zone”. It is estimated that the area around the
Taj contains five times the amount of suspended particles
(such as sulfur dioxide) that the Taj Mahal could handle
without sustaining everlasting damage.

Petitions of Indian environmentalists have led to a series

of court challenges in the Indian Supreme Court and lower
courts. The conflict has often pitted business and labor
interests against environmentalists and preservationists as
well as India's need to protect its cultural heritage versus
its need to provide jobs for its citizens.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

 To study the role of U.P Pollution Control Board in

implementing Environmental Laws and rules within the
jurisdiction of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

 To study and identify the need for Forest management in

Uttar Pradesh.

 To study the environmental measures proposed for the

protection of the Taj Mahal.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Data Sources

My project will mainly comprises of secondary data sources

like leading dailies, Times of India, Hindustan Times and
books on Environmental Conservation, etc. Besides these I
will take references from different magazines like India
Today, Outlook, The Week etc. Different websites will
constitute the most important source of data.

Primary Data will be gathered by interviewing the officials

of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and State Tourism
Department.

Research Approach

The research will aim to first list down the various

environmental issues in Uttar Pradesh with specific
reference to forests and Taj Mahal and than will list the
initiatives and measures taken by various authorities to
protect the forests and monument of the state.