Shortage of manpower hits construction works

Amaravati: Acute shortage of manpower has been delaying construction works of capital Amaravati. The contractors could not mobilise at least half of the required manpower which is affecting the work progress severely.

As the contractors are entirely depending on workers of other States instead of engaging local people for at least unskilled or semi-skilled works, it has become difficult to mobilise huge number of workers for the construction works.

The APCRDA has taken up various construction projects such as multi-storied apartments for MLAs, AIS officers, NGOs, Gazetted officers and other employees. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed displeasure over the slow progress of works in Amaravati during the CRDA meeting on Thursday.

According to sources, the CRDA officials reported to the Chief Minister that the shortage of manpower was severely affecting the progress of works. There is a high demand for carpenters, bar benders, mason, mason helpers, unskilled, semi skilled and other workers in capital construction works.

The contractors are mostly depending on workers from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra. The actual workers available for the non-gazetted officers’ housing project are 1,480 against the total requirement of 3,500. The workers available for gazette officers’ housing project are 1,100 against the total demand of 2,300 workers.

Around 750 workers are available for the MLA and the IAS officers housing projects against the total requirement of around 1,900 workers. The carpenters are available for the works are around 990 only as against the requirement of around 2,900.

Similarly, around 1,000 rod benders are available as against the requirement of over 2,300. The contractors could not mobilise unskilled and semi-skilled workers for the construction works.

A senior official of AP CRDA told The Hans India that several workers of West Bengal returned home during the recent panchayat elections in their home State and have not returned yet. Some of the workers came from Jharkhand and Bihar also returned to their native places.

“Mobilising the workers is the responsibility of the contractor. We are continuously pursuing the issue with contractors and trying to mobilise 30 per cent of workers from Bihar and Jharkhand now,” said Jekaraiah, chief engineer of APCRDA.

A CRDA official said that though we tried to press local people into capital city works, they were not showing interest. “We gave advertisements in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra for workers but the response was not encouraging,” the official said.

However, under schedule 3 (1) (iii) (d) of land pooling scheme, the State government promised to establish skill development institution and provide training with stipend to enhance the skills of tenant farmers, agricultural labourers and other needy persons in capital city area as thousands of people lost their livelihood due to land acquisition.

The APCRDA acquired around 33,000 acres of land for the purpose of capital city construction. Most of the agricultural labourers, small farmers and tenant farmers have been searching for labour work to earn their daily bread. The CRDA is expected to impart training to local people in skilled works.

APCRDA Director (land, social development) Chennakesava Rao told The Hans India that they trained 180 local people through National Academy of Construction at Thullur village so far and another 140 people would be given skill development training soon.

He also said the L&T Company which is involved in capital city construction works would set up its own training institute in Amaravati. “The L&T will begin skill development training institute after the APCRDA allots land for it in Amaravati,” he said.