CANACONA: With the exodus of the migrant workforce from Canacona taluka, builders and contractors now fear the construction industry is in for tough times.
“There are hardly any labourers available to carry out major works, including odd jobs at building construction sites. At present, we can carry only limited works by utilizing services of a few local labourers and, that too, with great difficulty. The entire migrant workforce has virtually disappeared from Canacona taluka. The construction industry is finished and nearly doomed in Canacona,” said a prominent builder, H Gracias.
Dhiraj Naik Gaunkar, a social worker who also undertakes contracts on a small scale, pointed out that hundreds of migrant labourers, even those not attached to any labour contractor, have not been seen since the past three-four days. “The common man who used to avail of the services of the migrant workers for odd jobs will also be severely hit. The labourers, many of whom were seen making a beeline at Chaudi junction every morning in search of work, have not turned up since the last three-four days,” informed Gaunkar.
