The Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a private company tasked to maintain sanitation and hygiene around the Taj Mahal.

The fine was imposed after the AMC was left embarrassed by Licipriya Kangujam, a Manipuri climate activist who tweeted a photo showing plastic waste piled up on the backside of the World Heritage site.

Behind the beauty of Taj Mahal! Thanks humans. 😞 You might be witnessing this scene when you visit the Taj Mahal. You may say it’s very polluted but your 1 piece of polythene bag, one simple plastics water bottle led this situation when millions of people visit every year. pic.twitter.com/KriVT1ewvk

"Behind the beauty of Taj Mahal! Thanks humans. You might be witnessing this scene when you visit the Taj Mahal. You may say it’s very polluted but your 1 piece of polythene bag, one simple plastics water bottle led this situation when millions of people visit every year," she had said in a Tweet.

Responding to her on Twitter, the AMC said that whenever the water level in the Yamuna decreases, the plastic waste flowing in the river from the cities lying upstream collects on one side of the river.

pic.twitter.com/n19CtMgSkZ

The AMC further shared photos of its staff cleaning up the area.

Photos (Yesterday 10 am) pic.twitter.com/KINVv1balw

"Happy to see my one tweet forced to clean garbage around Taj Mahal by the authorities yesterday. But I want a permanent solution. Ban single use plastic completely in & around all heritage site of India under a law," Licipriya further wrote on Twitter.

Happy to see my one tweet forced to clean garbage around Taj Mahal by the authorities yesterday. But I want a permanent solution. Ban single use plastic completely in & around all heritage site of India under a law. Anyway change is coming whether you like it or not. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/jMM7v8WVas

Licipriya's did not just embarrass the Agra civic body, but also an SP politician.

Samajwadi Party leader Manish Jagan Agrawal had quoted her Tweet saying "foreign tourists are also forced to show mirror to BJP-ruled Yogi government."

Licipriya responded to Agrawal saying "Hello Sir, I'm a proud Indian. I'm not a foreigner."

Hello Sir, I'm a proud Indian. I'm not a foreigner. 🙏 https://t.co/KBshDFJzQM

Plastic pollution has been a growing concern not just at Taj Mahal or Agra, but across the country.

India is set to ban the use of certain single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

The proposed ban includes items such as plastic straws, polythene bags, plastic sticks for candy or ice creams, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic cups, glasses and cutlery items, plastic sticks for ear buds, for balloons, wrapping films for sweet boxes or cigarettes and even PVC banners of less than 100 microns. 

Last week the Centre had issued directions to e-commerce companies regarding phasing out identified items. 

"With an aim to manage the demand side, directions have been issued to e-commerce companies, leading single use plastic sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers with respect to phasing out of identified single use plastic items," said an official from the Ministry.

The preparations for the ban are taking place on "war footing" with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) leading the war on SUP.

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