Business News

Amid growing popularity of Rajasthan's marble waste site, farmlands in nearby villages a silent casualty

Kishangarh (Rajasthan) | Once known for its marble industry and Bani Thani paintings, Kishangarh has assumed a new identity over the years -- a viral tourist destination that often features in selfies and reels. The biggest attraction here is the all-white marble dumping yard, Asia's largest, which is often confused for a snow-covered landscape. It draws more than 5,000 visitors every day and up to 20,000 on weekends. While the administration and business owners in the area are pleased with the 'Marble City of India' finding a place on the national tourism map, farmers in nearby villages are a worried lot as the marble dust often covers their fields, affecting the soil quality and crop production. Farmers in neighbouring villages of Tokra, Bhojiyawas, Rahimpura, Phaloda, Mohanpura and Kali Dungri pointed out that the marble dust often settles on their agricultural land and mixes with irrigation water. The usual crops grown in the belt are wheat, barley, mustard and gram in summer and winter seasons, and millets and moong in the monsoon season. "When initially the marble waste was accumulating, it was not this bad. Over the years, the slurry dried up. Now when the winds blow, the marble dust settles all over the crops. We try to use sprinklers to help wash it, but excessive watering also damages the crops," a 42-year-old woman, who works in her farm in Tokra village, told PTI on the condition of anonymity. "We cover our faces while working in the farm because the dust causes allergies. Sometimes when the winds are strong, the marble dust also comes into our house and onto the terrace and we have to close the windows. While all this is manageable, the problem is loss of livelihood since agriculture is our only source of income," she said. Dinesh (name changed) said the yield in his farms in Kali Dungri village has been reduced to almost half over the past five years. When a PTI reporter visited these villages, the farmers showed their lands with marble dust sitting on them. Most of them refused to be identified, fearing targeting by the marble giants operating in the area. Farmers whose agricultural land is close to the dumping yard are the worst affected. Among these is 52-year-old Mandraj, who was forced to give up farming and start a tea stall to sustain himself. "A white layer of marble dust often covers our crops. Ultimately, the production is low. Since my farms are very close to the dumping yard, last year the slurry ran into them and formed a thick layer on my field, making it unfit for sowing," Mandraj said. "My farms now have a solid layer of marble waste. The slurry also entered my well, rendering it useless. I even complained to the administration, but nothing happened," he claimed. The dumping site, where over 700 tankers carrying around 22 lakh litres of marble slurry are emptied every day, is spread over 350 acres. Environmentalists and health experts have flagged the dumping yard as a health hazard and a pollution hotspot. Scientific studies conducted by the Central University of Rajasthan have flagged it as a "toxic tourist destination", documenting the health and ecological impacts of this unregulated dumping. The concerns also reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which set up a joint committee, including members from the state and central pollution control boards.

Latest Stories

Read Full Story