What was once a dumping ground for marble slurry in Rajasthan’s Kishangarh has today become one of the region’s most photographed tourist spots. Popularly called “Snow Yard” or “Mini Switzerland,” the site attracts tourists, influencers, vloggers and pre wedding shoots because of its surreal white landscape and blue water pools. But behind the beauty lies a growing concern over marble dust and its possible impact on health.
Located in Kishangarh, one of Asia’s largest marble processing hubs, the site was originally created as a dumping yard for marble slurry waste generated by nearby factories. Over time, filmmakers and photographers began using the location for shoots, transforming it into a social media attraction.
“It looks beautiful from outside, but this is actually pollution,” said 26 year old vlogger Krati Parashar during a visit to the site. “The small particles of marble dust go inside our body through breathing and can cause breathing and skin problems. People come here for reels and photos, but they should also know the harmful side.”
Several visitors interviewed at the site admitted they were unaware of the risks before arriving.
“I didn’t think it could be harmful because the views are so good,” said Shaan Abbas, who had come for a photo shoot. “For a short visit it may be okay, but spending a lot of time here can be dangerous.”
Others described eye irritation caused by the dust.
“The dust is harmful for the eyes. People should wear glasses,” said visitor Amit, while another tourist, Nashra Ansari, called the place “beautiful but harmful.”
Despite this, the attraction continues to grow in popularity due to Instagram reels, Bollywood shoots and tourism promotions.
The Kishangarh Marble Association says efforts are being made to manage the site. Sampat Sharma, a member of the association, said the dumping yard accidentally became famous after films were shot there.
“We developed roads, planted thousands of trees and sprinkle water to control the dust,” Sharma said. “There are guards and warning notices for visitors.”
However, many visitors said they did not notice any health warning signs specifically related to marble dust exposure.
Health experts have long warned that fine marble and stone dust particles can affect the respiratory system when inhaled regularly. While marble dust is different from silica dust linked to silicosis, prolonged exposure to airborne particulate matter can still irritate the lungs, eyes and skin.
Political scientist and author Laxmikanth also spoke about the wider environmental and health concerns linked to marble waste and dust pollution in Rajasthan’s marble belts. He said uncontrolled marble slurry and airborne dust can affect local air quality and may create respiratory discomfort, especially for workers and people living near dumping sites for long periods.
Today, the Snow Yard stands as a strange contradiction, a polluted industrial waste site turned into a dreamlike tourist attraction. Visitors continue to arrive for photographs, reels and pre wedding shoots, even as concerns over health and environmental safety remain largely in the background.
In the narrow lanes of Bhandup’s slums in Mumbai, Sunday mornings have started to mean something different for children like 13-year-old Deepak Maru. Instead of spending the day aimlessly, Deepak wakes up at 6 am, gathers his friends, and heads out in search of discarded plastic bottles lying near drains, roads, and garbage dumps.
For the last few days, he had collected nearly 100 bottles. On Sunday, he proudly exchanged them for a hot meal through an initiative called Buy Food with Plastic Bottles, started by 23-year-old social entrepreneur Shakti Yadav.
“I was told the one who gets the maximum bottles gets a prize,” Deepak said excitedly. “There is so much garbage around the nallah nearby that collecting bottles is easy.”
That Sunday, Deepak won first prize and received a ration kit.
A Problem He Saw Every Day
Shakti Yadav, himself a resident of the Bhandup slums, grew up witnessing two harsh realities around him: mountains of plastic waste and families struggling for food.
“In monsoons, the drains used to overflow because plastic bottles clogged the nallahs. Dirty water entered our homes through sewer lines. I hated monsoons,” Yadav recalled.
In 2018, he came across a video on Instagram showing people exchanging plastic bottles for food. Inspired by the idea, he spoke to friends about starting something similar in Mumbai’s slums. Most laughed at him, saying such an idea would never work in India.
But Yadav continued researching and eventually connected with the founders of the international organisation Buy Food with Plastic. Though the idea remained on hold for two years while he pursued his MBA, the Covid 19 lockdown changed everything.
“During lockdown, I saw people struggling even for one meal a day. That is when I decided to implement this idea seriously,” he said.
Turning Plastic into Currency
The initiative officially began in September 2020. The concept is simple yet powerful: people collect plastic bottles from their surroundings and exchange them for freshly cooked hot meals.
What makes the initiative unique is that Yadav refuses to call it charity.
“We are not providing meals for free. People are buying meals with the plastic bottles they collect from their own surroundings,” he explained. “I want to make plastic bottles a currency in the future so that waste is removed from the environment, recycled, and people also get food in return.”
The collected bottles are sorted and sent for recycling. A part of the plastic is also transformed into useful products such as flower pots, coasters, decorative items, and recycled utility products through partner recycling units. According to the initiative, some recycled products linked to the project have also reached international buyers and supporters in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Europe through sustainability networks associated with Buy Food with Plastic.
During one Sunday event alone, over 4,615 plastic bottles were collected, while more than 233 people received meals.
More Than Just Food
The initiative has become much more than a meal distribution drive. It has also created environmental awareness among children living in the slums.
After meals are distributed, volunteers organise workshops where children receive colouring books and pencil colours. The drawings focus on environmental themes and plastic pollution. Children spend time colouring together before taking the books home.
Residents say the activity has positively engaged children in the community.
“Kids get so excited for this that they collect bottles for us as well,” said local resident Surekha Bodavade. “It is beautiful to see them so happy every Sunday.”
Another participant, Mangal Ingle, said the initiative spreads quickly through word of mouth. “Earlier they provided ration kits during lockdown, now they provide hot meals. Not just children, adults also wait eagerly for these events.”
Running on Community Support
Despite the growing impact, the initiative still faces funding challenges. Permissions and regulations are reportedly delaying formal financial support from the parent organisation abroad.
For now, Yadav organises events mostly through local donations, friends, and supporters who contribute food and supplies. Volunteer and logistics support is also provided by Happie Foundation, an organisation run by his college friend Vishal Sahani.
A Bigger Dream Ahead
Yadav’s vision extends far beyond occasional food drives.
By 2025, he dreams of opening a permanent Buy Food with Plastic restaurant where anyone can exchange plastic bottles for hot meals. The restaurant would also provide basic washroom and bathroom facilities for the underprivileged.
For a young man who once saw flooded drains and hunger outside his home every day, the dream is not just about food or recycling. It is about restoring dignity while cleaning the environment.
In a city struggling with both waste management and poverty, Shakti Yadav’s initiative shows how one simple idea can address two crises at the same time, one plastic bottle at a time.
