Possible Pollution Threat to the Green Buffer Zone around TAJ MAHAL

Research reveals that the green buffer zone around the Taj Mahal, designed to mitigate pollution damage, is itself under threat from anthropogenic factors. The study found that trees like Mahogany and Mimusops elangi, which dominate this zone (50-55% coverage), suffer from leaf spot diseases caused by fungi such as Mycosphaerella and Cladosporium when exposed to high levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Infection rates reached 45% under high SPM conditions, while NOx exposure increased fungal virulence even at a neutral pH. The study also demonstrated that Blitox treatment could reduce fungal spore germination by up to 80%, suggesting that replacing dominant timber-producing trees with less critical species and applying fungicides could help preserve the buffer zone's effectiveness in protecting the Taj Mahal from pollution-induced deterioration.

Chakrabarti, N., & Mitra, A. K. (2014). Possible Pollution Threat to the Green Buffer Zone around TAJ MAHAL. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology, 8(4), 68–72. https://doi.org/10.9790/2402-08416872