Kishangarh (Rajasthan), March 31 Once known for its marble industry and Bani Thani paintings, Kishangarh has transformed over the years – a popular tourist destination, often featured in selfies and social media.
The main attraction here is the vast, all-white marble dumping yard, Asia's largest, which often resembles a snow-covered landscape. It attracts more than 5,000 visitors daily and up to 20,000 on weekends.
While the local administration and business owners are pleased with Kishangarh becoming a prominent tourist destination, farmers in nearby villages are concerned. The marble dust often covers their fields, affecting soil quality and crop production.
Farmers from villages like Tokra, Bhojiyawas, Rahimpura, Phaloda, Mohanpura, and Kali Dungri have reported that the marble dust settles on their agricultural land and mixes with irrigation water.
The typical crops grown in the area are wheat, barley, mustard, and gram during the summer and winter, and millets and moong during the monsoon.
"Initially, the marble waste wasn't this extensive. Over time, the slurry dried up. Now, when the wind blows, the marble dust settles on the crops. We try to use sprinklers to help wash it off, but excessive watering also damages the crops," a 42-year-old woman working on her farm in Tokra village told
"We cover our faces when working in the farm because the dust causes allergies. Sometimes, when the winds are strong, the marble dust also enters our house and onto the terrace, and we have to close the windows. While this is manageable, the biggest concern is the loss of income, as agriculture is our only source of livelihood," she added.
Dinesh (name changed) said that the yield in his farms in Kali Dungri village has decreased to almost half over the past five years.
During a visit by a