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The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) faces recent environmental challenges, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issuing notices in early January 2026 over violations like illegal tree felling and construction.​
Key Facts about Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)
- Shape & Area: Trapezium-shaped zone covering 10,400 km² (4,000 sq mi).
- Location: Includes parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, covering Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Vrindavan, Hathras, and Bharatpur.
- Monuments Protected: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Plus 40+ other monuments of national and cultural importance.
- Establishment: Notified on 30 December 1996 after the Supreme Court case M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, which highlighted the threat of industrial and vehicular pollution to the Taj Mahal.
- Authority: Governed by the Taj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority
Legal & Environmental Measures
- Supreme Court Orders: Industries using coal/coke were directed to switch to cleaner fuels or relocate outside TTZ.
- Tree Protection: In March 2025, the Supreme Court ordered a tree census in TTZ to prevent illegal felling, reinforcing the Uttar Pradesh Tree Protection Act, 1976.
- Pollution Control: Strict monitoring of industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and construction activities.
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