India

Marble Slurry Dump in Rajasthan Turns Toxic Site into Tourist Attraction, Raising Health Concerns

By Muheet Ul Islam

A 300‑acre marble slurry dumping yard near Kishangarh in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district has become a popular tourist spot, drawing hundreds of visitors daily to its white, snow‑like landscape. Locally called the “Snow Yard,” the site is the largest of its kind in Asia and offers free entry. Couples pose against the white hills and an artificial blue lake, while social media influencers, musicians and film crews use the location for shoots. Businessman Salim Shahzada, who visited the site with his family, said it resembled Kashmir but was unaware of the environmental and health problems.

Kishangarh is a major marble and granite hub with about 1,200 processing units that generate more than 160 million rupees ($1.7 million) of daily business and employ roughly 25,000 people, according to the Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry. Each day, around 1,000 tankers transport slurry from these units and deposit about 5,500 tonnes of waste on the government‑allotted dump site.

Residents of nearby villages, including Bhogiyawas, report severe health issues linked to the dumping yard. 53‑year‑old Bagharam Gurjar says the dust causes chest infections, dental problems and skin allergies for people of all ages. General physician Aditi Goyal of Ajmer’s Ganga Narayan Hospital notes increased respiratory and skin problems among residents and workers exposed to toxic dust. She advises mask use to protect against dust that also settles on fields, hardening soil and hindering crop growth.

A study by Professor Laxmi Kant Sharma of the Central University of Rajasthan found lead silicate concentrations in local soil several times higher than normal and PM2.5 levels exceeding ambient air quality limits. The study warned of potential silicosis cases and called for immediate government action.

Long‑time resident Ugam Singh reports that groundwater is no longer drinkable, with high fluoride levels giving the water a salty taste. He cites tooth decay and bone weakness among villagers and says complaints to the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) have been ignored. Singh urges the cessation of marble slurry dumping to restore breathable air and fertile fields.

In 2023, environmentalist Drupad Malik filed a case with the National Green Tribunal over the dumping yard’s harmful effects. The tribunal directed the RSPCB to enforce monitoring, conduct inspections and penalise units violating environmental norms. A senior RSPCB official declined to comment.

Sharma says the area around the dumping yard is unfit for human settlement and recommends relocating the site away from populated areas. He has suggested using marble slurry in tile manufacturing to reduce pollution.

Ram Lal of Tokra village, 15 minutes from Bhogiyawas, calls for an alternative dumping site and free medical camps to assess health impacts from fine dust. He stresses that villagers cannot afford costly treatments for diseases linked to the slurry.

The marble dumping yard continues to attract tourists while residents endure ongoing health and environmental risks.