Aisha Sand Dredging Company

We’ve been out here at Sape for a while now. Most days start early, before the sun really hits the water near Dabhol. Dredging sand isn't the cleanest job, but it’s what we do here in Mahad. You get used to the sound of the machines and the smell of the river after a few years. Our spot in Raigad is usually busy with trucks coming and going, especially when the weather is clear. It’s not a fancy office or anything like that. Just a yard, some heavy equipment, and a few of us making sure the sand gets where it needs to go. Sometimes the machinery breaks down right when you’re in the middle of a big load, and then everyone is out there with wrenches and grease. It gets frustrating, but that’s just how it goes with this kind of work. We don't spend much time on the computer or writing long emails. Most of our talking happens over the noise of the engines or while having tea during a break. People around here know where to find us if they need sand for a project. We just keep our heads down and handle the daily piles. It's about getting the buckets filled and the trucks loaded without too much fuss. There’s always something to fix or a pile to move before the day is done, and that’s fine by us. It is just the way things work around the river.