Ali & Sons (Stone Crusher)

This stone crusher is out in Mallaram village, sitting on survey numbers 84 and 89. It is quite a drive out to Chinnakodur mandal, but that is where the space is for this kind of heavy work. The noise of the rocks being broken up is something you get used to after a while, though it’s loud for anyone visiting. Ali and his sons are usually around the site, making sure the machinery is greased and running right. It is a dusty environment, no matter how much water we try to spray around. We have trucks coming in empty and leaving full all day long. The ground is rough and uneven, so you have to watch where you walk. We don't have a fancy office building, just a small structure near the entrance where we keep the records of the loads. It is a family-run operation, so things are pretty casual. We eat our lunch together in the shade when the sun gets too hot. Dealing with stone is hard on the equipment, so there is always something that needs fixing or welding. We have a few regular drivers who know the route to the district town well. It’s a simple life out here in the village, just focused on the work and the piles of stone that need to be processed before the sun goes down and we head home for the evening.