Stone crushers

The frosted landscape betrays the reality of Mahoba Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

150 feet deep craters mark the landscape. Most quarries operate in an area less than five hectares because an environment impact assessment is not required for mining such a small area. No one keeps a proper record of the numbers, capacity and revenue of such quarries Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Children stop breaking stones and put aside their hammers to take a look at camera-wielding visitorsReport by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Streams of trucks ferry stones from quarries to crushing units on the road to Kabrai in Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh. Stones are not regulated by the Indian Bureau of Mines. They fall in the minor minerals category, the domain of the state pollution boardsReport by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Nibbling away little by little, workers strip the side of a hilltop while cutting for stone Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

A worker wears an iron-mesh eye gear to keep stone splinters from hurting the eyes. Most women suffer from lower back pain since they work long hours. Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

A tarantula-like stone crusher reduces stones brought from quarries into smaller sizes Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Webbed rubber gloves protect hands from the sharp edges of stones. But there is nothing to keep shrapnel from flying into their homes every time a stone is blasted Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Streams of trucks ferry stones from quarries to crushing units on the road to Kabrai in Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh. Stones are not regulated by the Indian Bureau of Mines. They fall in the minor minerals category, the domain of the state pollution boardsReport by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Workers take time off to exchange notes, perhaps on ways to deal with silicosis and tuberculosis. Regular employment is a dream come true but regular health check-up is asking for too much Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Dust and allergy are part of growing up in quarries. A quarry worker brings her baby to the doctor after sores erupted on her scalp. The child had been scratching her ears for a week.Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat

Stone quarries are easy to spot. The dust gives them away. Water sprinklers are hardly used to settle the dust. Local heavyweights own most quarries in Mahoba. Report by: Savvy Soumya Misra and Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat