Mumbai: Builders and contractors in Navi Mumbai are facing trouble as new projects are not working in a full-fledged manner owing to labour crisis. With Maharashtra having a huge chunk of migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand the construction sector is facing a tough time as 70 percent of the workers returned to their respective native lands amid corona-induced lockdown after unemployment and starvation started looming over their heads.
With construction work being resumed in the city under Unlock 1, builders, developers and contractors have contacted the workers to return to Maharashtra and have even agreed to bear the travelling, accommodation and other expenses for them. But in spite of all the offers, they are not willing to return to work out of fear of contracting the coronavirus which has added to the woes of the project owners. The construction sector was the worst-hit during the lockdown.
While speaking to ETV Bharat, Sarvesarva Rajesh Prajapati, owner of Prajapati Group said, "We had around 200 workers in three different projects. But at present, we have only 35 workers. The labour crisis has compelled to shut down one project and even the work on the remaining two projects is slow. However, we are putting in efforts to bring back all the workers."
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On a similar note, he added, "We are even willing to pay for the arrears and the advance salaries. Most of the workers said that they will not return to the city until the condition improves while others say that their families are not willing to send them. It has posed a big challenge for the construction industry.
Similar issue was raised by the chief of AYG Realty Project Anand Gupta, who said, "It's difficult to work with 20 percent labour force. We have not received payment from our concerned agencies yet. But we are ready to pay advance salaries to our workers. We have requested them to return to Mumbai but they are not willing to come back and resume the work.
This comes after the Maharashtra govt has allowed construction work to resume after two months of complete lockdown under Unlock 1. However, no new construction activity is allowed and conditions have been stated that the labour force available on the site must adhere to social distancing norms and must follow other precautionary measures.
Highlighting the less availability of the workers on the construction sites, the project heads said that the construction activity needs to resume or else it will disrupt the cash flow and the supply chain. Developers are making continuous attempts to call the workers back by explaining them the current scenario.
