Agra, May 14 (IANS): Hundreds of people joined a march on Thursday to protest the shifting of a centuries-old crematorium from the proximity of the iconic Taj Mahal here.

Representatives from NGOs, trade chambers, market committees, religious bodies and political parties took part in the march and pledged that they would not let the government shift the Taj Ganj Shamshan Ghat (crematorium).

Last week, Agra Divisional Commissioner Pradip Bhatnagar directed district magistrate Pankaj Kumar to start the shifting process.

The Archaeological Survey of India has been keen to get the Hindu cremation ghat shifted to prevent smoke pollution.

Environmentalists have claimed that the timeless beauty of the the 17th century monument of love is being threatened by smoke and soot from the crematorium.

A parliamentary committee, headed by Congress' Rajya Sabha member Ashwini Kumar, visited Agra last month. It too expressed its concern and asked the government to investigate fears expressed by the anti-pollution activists.