Demolition drive boon for construction workers

The court-ordered anti-encroachment drive on, the construction workers based in Dehradun have raised their wages substantially, leaving the people who need them in deep trouble.

The demand of such labourers is now high, as the reconstruction of the inside parts of the demolished structures is going on in full swing along with the demolition drive. Besides, the demand of the iron cutters and the vehicles meant to pick up the debris from the demolition sites has seen a spike.

They have also hiked their rates, exploiting the situation up to the hilt. Things have turned worse for those who need construction labourers as the number of them in the city is much lower in proportion to their demand. However, the situation is proving beneficial to the construction workers as they are hiking their rates in view of the sudden spike in the demand.   

Talking to The Pioneer, one of such labourers Pankaj  who hails from a village said that they are exploiting the situation to their advantage as their demand has suddenly increased in view of the ongoing demolition drive. “Why should we not earn some extra bucks? Our normal rate is Rs  400 per day. Now we are charging around Rs 700 and even more. This is, of course, a good time for us,” he said.  

A shop owner who had parts of shop pulled down by the demolition squad said that the volume of the debris left by the drive being huge, he needed workers to clear the debris. “However, taking full advantage of the situation, such workers are making us to shell us much more than the normal rates. One of them I approached demanded Rs 700. I tried to bring it down. But he was adamant and I was helpless, left with no other option but to engage him in the debris clearing work,” he said.