Kishangarh has always been celebrated as a school of Rajasthan’s miniature painting tradition, most famously the iconic Bani-Thani. But in the age of social media and viral content, the city in Rajasthan’s Ajmer
district is drawing attention for a very different reason.
Set against the state’s otherwise arid landscape, Kishangarh has emerged as an unlikely tourist hotspot. Lured by viral Instagram posts, visitors now flock here to shoot reels, film music videos and pose for pre-wedding photographs, captivated by vast stretches of white terrain that create the illusion of a snowfield in the desert.
The “snow-like” landscape is not snow at all. It is marble slurry waste, a byproduct of Rajasthan’s massive marble-processing industry, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has flagged it for its potential health implications.
What exactly is this snow-like tourist spot?
The viral white landscape is part of the marble slurry dumping yards in Kishangarh, one of Asia’s largest marble-processing hubs. Hundreds of marble units operate in and around the town, cutting and polishing stone for domestic use and export.
In the process, enormous quantities of marble slurry are generated every day. This slurry, essentially a fine powder mixed with water, is dumped in open yards once it dries.
Over time, these deposits spread across large tracts of land, forming a flat, chalk-white surface that visually resembles snow.
What began as an industrial waste site has gradually turned into an unofficial tourist attraction — one that lacks warning signs, access controls or health advisories, despite being surrounded by ongoing industrial activity.
Why Did The National Green Tribunal Step In?
The NGT took suo motu cognisance of the issue after media reports and petitions highlighted the unchecked dumping of marble slurry and its impact on the surrounding environment.
The Tribunal examined reports submitted by pollution control authorities and relied on scientific studies assessing air quality, groundwater contamination and health outcomes in the region.
In its observations, the NGT noted that the dumping of marble slurry has led to environmental degradation and raised concerns over potential health implications, particularly due to airborne dust and deteriorating groundwater quality.
These findings formed the basis for the Tribunal flagging the site as posing a health hazard, especially in light of unrestricted public access.
Picture Perfect Health Hazard
Marble slurry may look harmless, but prolonged exposure to its fine particulate matter can have serious consequences. When the dried slurry turns into dust, it becomes easily airborne, increasing the concentration of particulate matter in the air.
Scientific studies cited before the Tribunal link long-term exposure to marble dust with respiratory ailments, lung diseases such as silicosis, and irritation of the eyes and skin.
Workers in marble units are particularly vulnerable, but the risk is not limited to them. Visitors who walk, pose or lie down on the slurry-covered ground, often without protective gear, are also exposed.
The Tribunal also noted groundwater samples collected from areas around the dumping yards showed high levels of dissolved solids and contaminants, prompting the observation that the groundwater is not fit for drinking without treatment.
Social Media Selling Health Risk
What makes the Kishangarh dumping yards particularly problematic is how they have been repackaged online. On Instagram, Youtube and other social media sites, people are promoting these dump yards as a unique visual experience — “snow in Rajasthan” — without any reference to its industrial origins or the health risk it poses.
Pre-wedding shoots, fashion reels and travel content have helped normalise public access to what is essentially an industrial waste site. The absence of fencing, warning boards or safety protocols only adds to the illusion that the location is safe.
The NGT flagged this trend as deeply concerning, noting that pollution is being inadvertently glamorised and consumed as a tourism experience, exposing people to health risks without their informed consent.
Why NGT Did Not Order A Shutdown
Despite acknowledging the environmental and health concerns, the Tribunal stopped short of ordering the closure of the dumping yards. It recognised that marble processing is a major source of livelihood in the region and that some systems for the reuse of slurry do exist.
However, the NGT made it clear that existing measures are insufficient and that the current handling of marble waste cannot continue without stricter safeguards and oversight.
To reduce environmental damage and limit public exposure, the Tribunal directed authorities to strengthen dust control measures across industrial areas and dumping yards.
It called for better management of slurry water to prevent seepage into surrounding land and groundwater, structural safety checks of dumping embankments, and stricter regulation of excavation activity.
The NGT also pushed for the finalisation of long-pending national guidelines on marble slurry management, underlining the need for uniform standards across marble-producing states.
