AP govt hands over relief to kin of construction workers

The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday handed over ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to each of the families of five construction workers who committed suicide in Guntur district in recent days.

Labour Commissioner G Rekha Rani said in a press release the ex-gratia was paid from the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund.

Opposition parties alleged the workers committed suicide in the last few days as they had no work since all construction activity had come to a standstill due to non- availability of sand.

The opposition parties demanded that the government pay Rs 25 lakh to each of the deceased workers.

They have also been demanding that the government pay Rs 50,000 per month to each worker to meet livelihood expenses since the sand crisis has paralysed the construction sector.

While admitting to sand scarcity in the state, the government said the continued flood in major rivers hampered excavation.

We are taking all steps to tide over the crisis. Hopefully in the next 10 days, sand availability will improve, Municipal Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said.