• The Supreme court of India lifted its earlier interim order imposing a complete ban on construction, industrial activities and felling of trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
• It is a defined area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution.
• The Supreme Court of India delivered a ruling on December 30, 1996, regarding industries covered under the TTZ, in response to a PIL seeking to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution.
• It banned the use of coal/ coke in industries located in the TTZ with a mandate for switching over from coal/ coke to natural gas, and relocating them outside the TTZ or shutting down.
• The TTZ comprises monuments including three World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

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• TTZ is so named since it is located around the Taj Mahal and is shaped like a trapezoid.
• It has a four-zone which is named Red, Green, Orange and White.

Geographical location

• The geographical limits of the Taj Trapezium Zone is defined in the shape of a trapezium lying in the Agra Division of the State of Uttar Pradesh and in the                      Bharatpur Division of the State of Rajasthan.