(Image source from: ONGC to adopt Taj Mahal under Clean India campaign})

One of the eighth wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal has been adopted by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) under the Clean India Campaign.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, which is one of the hot tourist destinations in the world, will be adopted in a ceremony today, graced by Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi.

"It is the crown jewel among the tourist destinations in India and naturally is a priority destination under the campaign Clean India programme," the Tourism Ministry said.

The district authorities together with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) director general and Tourism minister will first visit the Taj Mahal, before launching the Clean India campaign from the Taj Khema Hotel.

The multinational oil and gas company ONGC has taken the ownership to brush up the marble mausoleum. Besides, Taj, ONGC has adopted five more monuments  under the Clean India Campaign. They are Ellora and Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, the Red Fort in Delhi, Golkonda Fort near Hyderabad, and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.

District Magistrate Zuher Bin Sagir  told the press: "It's a very important programme for us and we have made elaborate preparations. Agra deserves higher standards of cleanliness."

Currently, the ASI is in charge of maintaining the Taj Mahal complex, while the roads are taken care of by Agra Development Authority.

The Clean India Campaign is a government of India initiative for bettering cleanliness and hygiene in and around tourist destinations across India. Both private and public sector stakeholders are a part of this campaign.

AW: Suchorita Dutta