Vizianagaram: Relocation of migrant workers hits construction sector badly

Vizianagaram: The relocation of migrant workers has badly affected the construction sector in the district. Normally the builders of apartments and houses bring labour from nearby villages and hire them till the completion of project. But now most workers have moved to their native villages and are reluctant to come here. As a result, the buildings and apartments remain half completed. Though the builders and contractors are requesting them to come back, it seems that they are not able to return in near future due to lockdown restrictions.

Mason workers from Srikakulam, Parvathipuram and Bobbili area are being involved in construction works in Vizianagaram. The builders give some amount in advance to team leaders (Mestri) and hire the labour till completion of the project. The Mestri will manage all the labour and bring them to these works. But due to lockdown, all of them have abandoned these works halfway and went to their villages.

Apart from the local labour, the technicians like those involved in laying of floor tiles, granite fixing, wall putty and ceiling designers are mostly from Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. All these technicians have gone to their native places recently and they are not able to come back as per the expectations of the builders here.

The migrant workers and technicians are scared of corona pandemic. Praful Kumar, a ceiling designer of Uttar Pradesh, who went back to his native place stated, "I have agreed to complete many works by May but due to this lockdown I came back to my village after facing many hurdles en route. Now I can't say when I would come to Vizianagaram and complete the works. If all trains are restored, the migrants feel comfortable and can come to work slowly. So, I think it takes some more time to come back to Vizianagaram."

Makkuva Sridhar, a builder, said I assured my customers that I would complete the apartment by June but the ongoing lockdown has totally spoiled my plans. Now, the technicians like electricians, granite workers and tiles workers are not available. Hence I need to request the customers to understand the situation and cooperate with me."