Making salt while the sun shines

Workers at Mumbai’s saltpans are scrambling to make as much salt as they can before the monsoon sets in. (Pratham Gokhale)

Published on: Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

Workers at Mumbai’s saltpans are scrambling to make as much salt as they can before the monsoon sets in. (Pratham Gokhale)

2/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The saltpans, which are spread across 5,378 acres in Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, are shut during the rains. So workers have just a few days more to make salt. (Pratham Gokhale)

3/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

This saltpan is in Bhayander but you’ll find them in Vasai and Virar and the eastern suburbs of Ghatkopar, Chembur, Wadala, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Mandale, Turbhe, Nahur, and Mulund. (Pratham Gokhale)

4/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The saltpans play a crucial role in keeping Mumbai from flooding during the rains and when the tide is high. (Pratham Gokhale)

5/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The workers, both men and women, start their day early but take a break at noon as the heat rises. They resume work only after 3pm. (Pratham Gokhale)

6/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The work is back-breaking as there is no mechanisation. Everything is done as it has been for centuries. (Pratham Gokhale)

7/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The pans are allowed to flood with seawater during high tide and salt forms over a period as the water evaporates. (Photo by Pratham Gokhale/ Hindustan Times) (Pratham Gokhale)

8/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The workers have to spread the slush around in the rectangular beds to aid evaporation. (Pratham Gokhale)

9/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

As the salt crystallises in these beds, it is heaped up, ready to be moved. Each batch takes about 15 days to make. (Pratham Gokhale)

10/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

Women and men have to carry baskets of salt on their heads to the storage points. (Pratham Gokhale)

11/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Published on Jun 01, 2016 4:04 PM

The salt is finally piled up in huge mounds on the edges of the saltpans for the trucks to pick up. (Pratham Gokhale)