Locals to provide additional security cover to Taj Mahal - Times of India ~ Electronic Gadgets

LUCKNOW: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has developed an additional 'security' layer for the iconic Taj Mahal comprising the 'aam admi' living and working around it.

The layer is a 'vigilance network' of stake holders including guides, photographers, shopkeepers, vendors, service providers, hotel owners and locals living in Tajganj area, where the monument is located. Under the initiative, ASI would apprise and train stake holders to identify behaviour hinting any kind of terror activity and alert the government machinery.

"ASI's effort owes its genesis to the terror attack in Bodhgaya which sparked a debate that even heritage sites were not safe from terrorism," superintending archaeologist, ASI, Agra Navratna Kumar Pathak told TOI on Wednesday.

He added that this new layer would be over and above the existing two-layered security of Taj Mahal as per the Supreme Court directives. In this, the red zone - or the Taj Mahal complex - is manned by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) while the yellow zone, which is the area in 500 metre radius of the Taj, is guarded by the state police.

"Taj Mahal is the most important ASI site in India. Therefore, every Indian has the responsibility of its maintenance and upkeep," Pathak said.

On the rationale behind the initiative, he cited the broken window theory in which locals play a crucial role in security. "A vigilant common man is as good as a cop in plain clothes. The input given by them may not be useful all the time, but it helps the security agencies understand a problem better and navigate a solution for it," Pathak further said.

Additional director general, ASI, BR Mani stated that the effort was being undertaken on a pilot basis. "Any monument cannot be seen in isolation. Stake holders' participation in safety related activities of the monument guara ntees the best interest of the monument and the people," he said. ASI had roped in representatives from CISF, local intelligence unit, administration and agencies like the guides association and tourism guild of Agra to apprise the stake holders on 'what to take with a pinch of salt'.

"Suspecting unclaimed articles is like commonly expected behaviour but many people tend to ignore the significance of small things such as logging out their e-mail accounts, leaving their Wi-Fi services without passwords. These things may be misused by people with wrong intentions. Then, locals should always insist on police verification of the tenants especially the ones who offer too much for an odd job," said SP Singh, commandant, CISF.

Agra police chief Shalabh Mathur drew the attention towards the need of gathering correct information of visitors who take sim cards. Commissioner, Agra division, alerted the people against falling prey to lures and asked the hotel owners to cooperate with the security personnel when they come in unannounced checks. Representatives of Agra Tourism Guild stressed on the need of a central helpline where all the information could be passed on.

In this regard, ASI has promised that if the local police or state tourism department starts a helpline, it will publish the number free of cost on the Taj Mahal entry ticket.

Experts in tourism industry welcomed the move. Director, Kanshiram Institute for Tourism Studies, Prof Manoj Dixit said that local involvement can make or break a piece of heritage.

"Locals can be the most successful caretakers of heritage while their apathy is a monument's biggest enemy," he said adding, "In many countries, local participation has turned a heritage building into an agile and happening spot. Their role in strengthening the security of the heritage building is surely promising."

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