Photos: Taj Mahal conservation clamps down on Firozabad’s glass art
Updated On Jun 29, 2017 09:27 AM IST
The ancient glass quarter in Firozabad has stuggled to recover after authorities blamed smoke drifting from its furnaces for the discoloration of the Taj Mahal's magnificent white marble.
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Updated on Jun 29, 2017 09:27 AM IST
In the blazing-hot workshops dotting the district of Firozabad, the Taj Mahal is a sore subject for craftsmen toiling over thousand-degree furnaces to fashion the glittering bangles that sell for pennies across India.The ancient glass quarter in Firozabad never recovered after authorities blamed smoke drifting from its furnaces for the yellowing of Taj’s radiant white marble, threatening the beauty of India’s number-one tourist attraction. The artisans were banned from burning coal and forced to use costly natural gas to fuel their furnaces instead -- with no discernable improvements to the Taj, two decades on. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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A worker prepares molten glass to make bangles at a factory in Firozabad. Many factories have closed or downsized considerably as the price of natural gas has risen steadily in recent years.. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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These factories date back to almost as far as the Mughal-era mausoleum. A Supreme Court ruling in 1999, giving Firozabad two years to retrofit their factories with gas instead of coal, has gradually eroded their razor-thin margins, pushing many to the wall. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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Competition from cheaper plastic and metal bangles has also made it harder for those crafting glass by hand, a costlier and more time consuming process. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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The artisans of Firozabad feel their days are numbered, and face the very real threat of being turfed out of their homes and businesses for good. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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Despite the interventions the Taj is still yellowing, prompting authorities to search for stricter rules on potential pollutants in the area. Other coal-powered industries in districts closest to the mausoleum have also been shut down, while motor vehicles are not allowed within a 500 metre radius of it. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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A worker packs glass bangles at a factory in Firozabad. Artisans working in these units earn little more than Rs 300 per day, despite the extreme conditions. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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A 2015 joint study by Indian and US researchers concluded smog from burning fossil fuels, dung and garbage in and around Agra city was tarnishing the marble. Although mud packs are applied periodically to draw the stain from the stone, but authorities have struggled to rope in the discolouration. (Sajjad Hussain /AFP)
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Updated on Jun 29, 2017 09:27 AM IST