The ban seemed imminent from Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya's observations while hearing a PIL on Friday: "The situation has become worse. Morning walks within the memorial premises should be stopped to protect the monument. Instead, citizens should take the walk elsewhere. It can be the adjoining Maidan."

The Calcutta HC division Bench hinted at the step to protect the white marbles of the imperial monument from the foul air all around. It will pass its verdict next week.

Morning walkers damage Victoria marble: Experts

Kolkata: How are morning walkers harming the Victoria Memorial marble? A panel engaged by Calcutta High Court offers the following logic: People come early in the morning and break the morning mist that enshrouds the Memorial and protects it from air pollution. The longer the mist lasts, the better, the expert committee held.

The division Bench agreed with the argument when petitioner Subhas Datta pointed out that Victoria Memorial is the only historical monument in India which remains open to citizens in the morning. "Such activities are not allowed in Taj Mahal or Red Fort," Dutta submitted when the bench wanted to know the fees morning walkers have to pay in other monuments in the country.

This information reminded the judges of the warning from the expert panel. "Morning mist prolongs the life of marble. It helps maintain environmental purity. The best thing is to keep the mist cover undisturbed. Morning walkers break the mist, thus making the Memorial prone to damage," the panel said in its report to the court.

Datta came up with a few alternative sites for morning walkers. The Race Course would be a suitable place, he felt. "In Mumbai, citizens take the morning walk in the race course. And the authorities don't charge any fee for that. Kolkata can emulate this," Datta said.