Monday, March 21 2005 14:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government has received a representation from a non-Government body for taking over maintenance of Taj Mahal and is examining its legal angle, Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy said in Rajya Sabha today (Mar 21, 2005).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Reddy said, "Some claim has been made on maintenance of Taj Mahal and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received some representation on this. It is being looked into from the legal angle."

Reddy said that Taj Mahal continues to be the prime monument of the country and was being taken care of by the ASI.

When Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that he was concerned that the Waqf Board had made a claim for maintenance of Taj Mahal, Reddy, without naming anybody, said, "Some representation has been received. It is being looked into. There is nothing objectionable about it."

Reddy said the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee had recommended setting up a body to coordinate and address all conservation and development challenges to Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

It also called for evaluating and redefining world heritage protective boundaries and management guidelines pertaining to Taj Mahal and Agra fort, he said.