"It would be interesting to watch what happens to the 80 odd acres of the controversial Taj Heritage Corridor if the rising level continued to erode soil from the sides. Large tracts of the corridor are already under water. It also needs to be studied how the enhanced speed of the current as a result of the narrowing of the width of the river due to the corridor impacts the foundation of the Taj Mahal.

Earlier when the corridor was not there, the flood water used to flatten and spread out before the Taj Mahal. But now the huge volume of water has to pass through a narrower passage thus increasing the velocity of the flow of the current. Some fears were originally expressed when work began on the corridor but officials said they had conducted required studies. This year the water level has been higher for more than a month and the disappearance of the huge water body at the Mantola nullah entry point opposite the Fort, could make a difference. Therefore complacency is not advisable. The ASI should conduct thorough studies to assure us all was well," green activist Ravi Singh told Agratoday.in.

It would be foolish of anyone to suggest that no difference has been made even after altering fundamentally the physical settings of the eco-sensitive area between the two world heritage monuments. Such a massive volume of water coming down with such force can move mountains, added Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.