A Supreme Court order to stop commercial activities within 500 metres of the <keyword id="6355354" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal" source="Orion">Taj Mahal</keyword> has triggered a huge controversy that could create tension and uncertainty affecting the revival of tourism in the post-pandemic era. The apex court has directed the Agra Development Authority (ADA) to stop all business activities within 500 metres from the periphery of the World Heritage Site. The order came while disposing of a petition by a group of shopkeepers who had been shifted from their original location to a new site close to the parking area. They complained that while they had moved out, a large number were still continuing commercial activities in the restricted area. The order is likely to affect at least 500 shops, handicraft outlets, restaurants, hotels in the <keyword id="2336407" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Taj-Ganj" source="Orion">Taj Ganj</keyword> locality. A rough estimate suggests around 50,000 people could be rendered jobless. Sources said the affected people were contemplating on moving a review petition in the apex court, while politicians were also being contacted. But a BJP MLA said the party could do nothing as the matter was before the apex court. Meanwhile, the ADA has started a survey and listing of establishments in the 500-metre zone. Clearly, there is lack of unanimity at the local level. Green activists pointed out that in December 1996, the Justice Kuldip Singh bench of the Supreme Court had ordered the closure of all polluting industries in the Taj Trapezium Zone. Industries that agreed to switch over to natural gas were however spared later. This action followed acceptance of the high powered Dr S. Vardharajan Committee report that had made a number of suggestions to contain high pollution level in the 10,000 sq.km eco-sensitive Trapezium Zone. The Taj Ganj market, and the shops on the eastern, southern and western gates of the monument carried on with commercial activities. Vehicles had to be permitted though there is a ban on movement of petroleum based automobiles. "The whole area is congested, stinking and full of people who are accused of fleecing tourists. Unauthorised or freelance guides are called Lapkas in the local lingo," a tourist guide said. The 'Catch 22' situation is not easy to resolve. If the apex court goes by the 1996 precedent, then there should be no hope for relief, but if the Uttar Pradesh government takes up the case and is able to persuade the apex court of the grim implications of the order, some relief may be forthcoming, a senior advocate said. The 17th century monument of love is annually visited by more than seven million tourists and is India's star tourist attraction. Lakhs of local people earn their living from tourism. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/can-india-continue-to-outperform-global-markets/articleshow/94506544.cms">Can India continue to outperform global markets?</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/us-and-uk-visa-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-applying-for-visa/articleshow/94505440.cms">Here’s all you need to know about applying for the UK and the US visa</a>

Stormy start to tourist season as SC order leads to tension around Taj Mahal

The steady increase in footfalls during the <keyword id="6494550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dussehra" source="Orion">Dussehra</keyword> vacation and Diwali holidays has buoyed the hopes of the local <keyword id="20048" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism" source="Orion">tourism</keyword> industry which had taken a beating during the pandemic years. "The clouds of despair and despondency have cleared and we are hoping to welcome a record number of tourists this season, though the number of foreign visitors has not picked momentum yet," a hotelier of Taj Ganj, Sandip said. The hospitality industry in <keyword id="6356295" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Agra" source="Orion">Agra</keyword> is hoping that the number of European tourists could go up, as there has been a remarkable improvement in travel facilities and a comparatively safer environment in Uttar Pradesh. "India remains a colourful and affordable destination for most foreign tourists. A large number of tourists who land in Goa, take a short break to visit Agra and Jaipur, but since there is no air connectivity between Agra and Goa, tourism suffers," tourist guide Ved Gautam said. Despite the air <keyword id="13001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pollution" source="Orion">pollution</keyword> in Delhi and Agra, people are venturing out. The tourism season has begun on a happy note with thousands of foreign visitors crowding up the <keyword id="6355354" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Taj-Mahal" source="Orion">Taj Mahal</keyword> to see the monument of love against the rising sun. Undoubtedly, the Taj continues to remain a hot favourite, and the foreign visitors in the hundreds already here as early as 6 a.m, clearly means they have spent the night in Agra hotels. Hoteliers say night stay has declined, but there seems no proof of this fear. The monsoon rains brought down the air pollution level in the vicinity of the Taj in September and the Yamuna, too, was flowing full at the rear. "Foreign tourists are simply mesmerised by the charm of the Taj Mahal, and spend hours at the monument," said a guide escorting a group from Italy. However, in October the smog started engulfing the whole city reducing visibility in the morning. But this has not deterred tourists from visiting the Mughal monuments. "Holidays are a time for students' groups from all over India to visit the Taj Mahal and other historical monuments in Agra. Entry to children below 15 years remains free." Tourism organisations in the city have been blaming government agencies for not maintaining the roads and civic amenities. This generates a lot of negativity about tourism in Agra. "The police has been rather indifferent to the problems tourists face from unauthorised guides called 'Lapkas', who harass and pester the tourists everywhere." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/estimated-32-lakh-weddings-till-dec-14-with-a-trade-of-rs-3-75-lakh-cr/articleshow/95352679.cms">Estimated 32 lakh weddings till Dec 14 with a trade of Rs 3.75 lakh cr</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/now-noida-greater-noida-builders-have-to-pay-up-as-sc-reverses-order-capping-interest-rates/articleshow/95352812.cms">Now Noida, Greater Noida builders have to pay up, as SC reverses order capping interest rates</a>

Agra tourism industry on a boom, despite pollution and war cries

<ul><li>At present, there are 5,259 active <keyword id="8644408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-cases">Coronavirus cases</keyword> in the Uttar Pradesh.</li><li>Out of the 14,598 confirmed cases in the state, 8,904 patients have recovered and 435 patients have died.</li><li>Uttar Pradesh reported 507 new cases and 18 new deaths on June 16.</li></ul>Uttar Pradesh reported 507 new cases of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> on June 16, taking the total number of cases in the state to 14,598. Out of the 14,598 confirmed cases, 8,904 patients have recovered and 435 patients have died. The state government has revealed that several patients had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Nizamuddin or had come in contact with someone who attended the event. The Uttar Pradesh government has started pool testing in view of the increasing number of pending samples. Pool testing, which has been approved by ICMR, involves collective testing of about ten samples at one go. If found negative, all the ten persons are declared Corona free but if the sample tests positive, all ten persons will have to undergo individual tests. Prof Gopal Nath, in-charge of the BHU laboratory, said, "We are conducting over 350 tests every day against our capacity of 300 samples per day, for more than a week now. But, the number of samples collected from all 13 districts connected with this lab is accumulating. Pool testing will quicken the pace of testing now." <table style="width: 560pt;"> <colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 94pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: black;">State</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 175pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Total Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 179pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Active Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Cured</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Death</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">Uttar Pradesh</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">14,598</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">5,259</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">8,904</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">435</td> </tr></tbody></table> 'Pani puri' sale banned in UP district There is bad news for those who crave for 'pani puri'. The sale of 'pani puri' has been banned in Kanpur from Tuesday. District Magistrate Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari said there were inputs that corona safety norms were being flouted at street food carts after the relaxation in curbs under 'Unlock 1.0'. "Besides, there was a lack of social distancing at these stalls and we have banned the sale of pani puri so that there is no further spike in corona cases," he said. Agra faces financial loss, yearns for return of tourists India's global tourist destination Taj Mahal, which witnessed a daily footfall of thousands of people, now stands secluded after it was shut to the public exactly three months ago due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown. Taj Mahal is Uttar Pradesh's main attraction and a major source of revenue for the state's tourism industry. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, as many as 15,000 to 20,000 foreigners and Indians used to visit the historical site daily. Superintendent Archaeologist Dr Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told IANS that foreign tourists were charged Rs 1,300 each while domestic tourists paid Rs 250 each for the visit but the pandemic has spelt doom for historical monuments and Agra's economy. It is the first time that the monument has been shut after the devastating 1978 floods. It was previously closed during World War II in 1942 and the Indo-Pak war of 1971. We have effectively checked corona spread: Yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the state had effectively controlled the spread of coronavirus. He said it could be made possible due to the guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a good teamwork in the state. He, however, cautioned against any complacency and said a minor carelessness could be dangerous. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that the lockdown was implemented strictly and the asymptomatic corona patients were kept in the hospitals which helped in stopping the spread of the virus. Unable to manage train seat, man buys car and heads home Lallan, a painter in the NCR city Ghaziabad, waited near a railway station for three days for his turn to get on to a Shramik special. On the fourth day, he went to the bank, withdrew all his savings of Rs 1.9 lakh and headed straight to a second hand car seller. He bought a used car for Rs 1.5 lakh, and travelled back to his home in Gorakhpur along with his family, vowing never to return. A resident of Kaitholia village in PP Ganj in Gorakhpur, Lallan said, "After the lockdown, I stayed on hoping that things would soon return to normal. When the lockdown kept getting extended, I thought it would be safer for me and my family to return to our village. However, we made several attempts to get seats on buses or trains but failed." Aligarh lock industry seeks Yogi help to restart The Aligarh lock industry has sought financial assistance from the Yogi Adityanath government to enable it to pay salaries to its workers. According to Sunil Datta, general secretary of the Tala Nagri Industrialist Association, a meeting with the state government is scheduled this week in this regard. "We are not in a position to support our workers any longer. We had no business during the lockdown, but we paid salaries to them, but now things are out of our hands too. We need some financial assistance to survive," he said. Yogi to give ration kits, Rs 1,000 to each destitute Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to provide ration kits and Rs 1,000 to all destitutes who do not have ration cards. In his meeting with Team 11 officials on Monday, the Chief Minister said that efforts should also be made to provide ration cards to these people. In the rural areas, the ration kits and Rs 1,000 will be given from the funds allotted to village heads while in the urban areas, the same will be provided by municipal corporations, the government spokesman said. UP government to follow Centre's guidelines on 'Unlock 1' The lockdown in Uttar Pradesh will continue till June 30 but as per the guidelines for 'Unlock 1', as issued by the Centre, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship will be allowed to reopen from June 8. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Uttar Pradesh, Avanish Awasthi told reporters that said that the state government will allow religious places, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls to reopen from June 8 but with safety protocols. He said that no relaxations would be allowed in the containment zones and District Magistrates would also be allowed to take decisions on relaxations and restrictions, depending on the COVID-19 situation in their areas. UP prisoners' parole to be extended amid Covid crisis With Corona showing no signs of receding in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has decided to extend by another eight weeks, the parole of 2,257 convicts, sentenced to seven years or less and also those awaiting trial entailing less than seven-year imprisonment. In the last week of March, the Supreme Court had directed states and union territories to consider releasing convicts sentenced to seven years or less and also those awaiting trial entailing less than seven-year imprisonment, in order to decongest jails during the Corona crisis. Yogi govt completes skill mapping of 14.75 lakh migrants The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has completed the task of skill mapping of 14.75 lakh migrant workers who have returned to the state during lockdown. According to the official spokesman, the skill mapping of migrant workers will help in providing employment for them. With inputs from IANS. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-hyderabad-telangana-news-and-updates/articleshow/74823424.cms">Coronavirus cases in Telangana</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-news-and-updates/articleshow/74828808.cms">Coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-gujarat-news-and-updates/articleshow/74830845.cms">Coronavirus cases in Gujarat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-bihar-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833815.cms">Coronavirus cases in Bihar</a>

You Searched For "Taj Ganj" and got 4 results

Stormy start to tourist season as SC order leads to tension around Taj Mahal

IANS

Agra tourism industry on a boom, despite pollution and war cries

IANS

UP Coronavirus cases rise to 14,598, 435 dead and 8,904 recovered

Rounak Jain

Maharashtra identified 14 districts as red zones— here’s the complete list of containment zones in Mumbai and Pune

Navdeep Yadav