Toxic Marble Dump Becomes Unlikely Tourist Draw in Rajasthan as Locals Battle Health Crisis

A 300-acre marble slurry dumping yard in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, has become an unlikely tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of daily visitors who pose against its white hills and artificial blue lakes. Locally called the "Snow Yard," it is the largest facility of its kind in Asia, offering free entry to newlyweds, influencers and film crews. Visitors often compare the scene to Kashmir.

But for the nearly 5,000 people living in nearby villages such as Bhogiyawas, the dump is a health hazard. Residents report chest infections, dental problems and skin allergies, while dust settling on fields hardens the soil and makes farming difficult. A study led by professor Laxmi Kant Sharma at the Central University of Rajasthan found lead silicate concentrations in the soil several times above normal, and PM2.5 levels exceeding air quality standards.

Resident Ugam Singh says groundwater is no longer fit for consumption due to high fluoride levels. Locals say complaints to authorities have gone unanswered. Last year, environmentalist Drupad Malik filed a case before the National Green Tribunal, which directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to enforce monitoring and penalise violating units. Sharma warned the area is unfit for human settlement and urged the dump be relocated, while residents demand free medical camps and an alternative dumping site.