No entry into villages without permit, no vehicles at night: Taj Mahal’s upkeep a burden to Agra residents

Life for people residing in villages close to the Taj Mahal is not easy as security concern over the monument has, in essence, locked them inside their villages.

The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is a monument that usually invites awe and appreciation due to its sheer beauty. But, for the residents of five villages in Agra, the upkeep of this monument of love has turned their lives upside down.

The villagers claim that the Supreme Court's decision to 'enhance' the Taj Mahal's security has locked them inside their villages. The residents of these five villages-- Nagla Talpi, Garhi Vangas, Nagla Paima, Muhalla Ahmed Bukhari, and Nagla Dhing-- claim that every resident has been issued an entry pass to leave and enter the village.

Those without a pass are not allowed entry into the villages. The main road linking these villages to the rest of the city passes close to the Taj Mahal and the security agencies have placed barriers on the road to prevent anyone from passing through without proving his credentials as a bonafide resident of the village.

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Bhoori Singh, a local villager, claimed that their relatives are not allowed to visit them in the village. The villagers themselves have to go to the security barrier and verify the identity of the relative to the security personnel before they are allowed to cross the barrier.

Speaking to India Today, Bhoori Singh said that out of a population of about 25,000-30,000 people, almost 40 per cent of the local men in these villages are unmarried, as nobody wants to get their daughters married to men from these villages.

Bhoori Singh said that the relatives of the villagers rarely visit and even wedding invitations are now extended over phone.