By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: the world-famous 12th century monument, one of the world heritage sites in India, is tilting at the annual rate of 0.5 to 3 seconds. In red and buff sandstone, the minaret, the highest tower in India, has tilted between 9 to 11 seconds from 1983 to 2005.
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni gave the information to the Lok Sabha today.
The Survey of India has conducted geodetic survey of Qutb Minar at the behest of rchaeological Survey of India (ASI) and submitted its report to ASI in 2008. The report indicates that the Minar has tilted between 9 to 11 seconds from 1983 to 2005 and annual rate of tilt is 0.5 to 3 seconds.
Emperor Qutbuddin Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the muazzin to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of the Minar, was built by him in AD 1198. Three storeys were added to the Minar by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsudsin Iltutmish (AD 1211-36).
“The study conducted by the Geodetic and Research Branch of the Survey of India during March-April 2005 has concluded that Minarets of Taj Mahal are quite stable both in plan and elevation. Conservation works are being done at these monuments regularly. Every care is taken to ensure that no damage is caused to them,” the minister told the House.