Kishangarh (Rajasthan), March 31 Once known for its marble industry and Bani Thani paintings, Kishangarh has become a popular tourist destination over the years, featuring prominently in selfies and social media posts.
The main attraction is the large, all-white marble dumping yard, which is Asia's largest and often mistaken for 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's growing tourism, 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 marble dust settles on their agricultural land and mixes with irrigation water.
Common crops grown in the area include wheat, barley, mustard, and gram in summer and winter, and millets and moong in the monsoon.
A 42-year-old farmer from Tokra village, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "When the marble waste first started accumulating, it wasn't as bad. But over the years, the slurry has dried up. Now, when the winds blow, the marble dust settles all over the crops. We try to use sprinklers to help wash it away, but excessive watering also damages the crops."
He added, "We wear masks when working in the fields 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 this is manageable, the biggest problem is the loss of income, as agriculture is our only source of income."
Dinesh (name changed) said that the yield in his farms in Kali Dungri village has been reduced to almost half over the past five years.
When a