New Delhi, August 23: A series of measures, including a detailed study by an Italian firm are under way to protect the Taj in Agra from possible damage by the effluents of the Mathura refinery.

The services of the Italian firm have been obtained by the Indian Oil Corporation for establishing the concentration of effluents under various meteorological conditions at different distances from the refinery and determining the concentration permissible from the point of view of preservation of monuments.

The firm Tecneco, a subsidiary of the ENI group, will calculate the ground level concentration of effluents, particularly sulphur dioxide, in the region on account of emission from the refinery, determine the existing level of pollution in Agra, examine the present state of preservation of the monuments and determine the permissible concentration of effluents.

The studies will be conducted partly in India and partly in Italy. The important portion of the study relating to the present state of the monument will be carried out by Tecneco under the guidance of the Institute Del Rostauro Italiano and the International Centre of Conservation, Rome. Indian experts will be associated with these studies.