India halts work on Taj Mahal tourist complex

The Indian federal government has ordered a state-run company building a tourist complex near the Taj Mahal to stop work because the project violates laws protecting the 17th century monument, reports said today.

Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan, who goes by one name, has also ordered a probe into how the Government-funded project in the city of Agra in northern Uttar Pradesh state was originally approved, a ministry spokesman said.