Manpower shortage hits secretariat work

Amaravati: The shortage of construction workers is delaying completion of the temporary secretariat complex at Velagapudi in the Amaravati capital region while the sudden onset of rains over the past few days has also been impeding progress.

Two workers from West Bengal died on site which has raised fear and anxiety among the other workers, said Brij Mohan, a worker. Most of the workers are from West Bengal, Bihar, UP, Odisha and other states, and have been returning home unable to bear the scorching heat and the heavy workload. Of the 1,300 workers and engineers at the site, 200 quit recently.

Temperatures during the day have been 46 degrees Celsius over the past one month. The workers live in small asbestos sheds with no proper ventilation nor even any basic  amenities.

Brij Mohan and others said that they had never worked in such temperatures before, the heat strongly deterring those who were not from AP. They were also putting in overtime to earn more, but this had only weakened their health further, several among them falling sick and opting to return home.

The government pressed into service 200 local skilled workers from Vijayawada, Tadepalli, Guntur, Mangalagiri and adjacent areas to fill the manpower shortage, but were reluctant to work. Workers from Mangalagiri said they were paid daily but the contractors were offering them weekly wages. They claimed a worker got Rs 500 and a master worker Rs 600 per day, but they were getting only Rs 350-Rs 400 per day.