MNS campaign grounds realty

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) sons of the soil campaign and the resultant violence have severely affected the real estate industry in Pune. Over 60 per cent construction workers have quit the city due to the "fear-factor" and this is set to delay the completion of over 55,000 flats in Pune.

The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) too have been facing a sudden shortage of manpower over the last fortnight. Auto-component and spare part developers, the paint industry and furniture makers too are at the receiving end with north Indian workers moving towards their hometowns.

The Promoters and Builders Association of Pune (PBAP) claims that this development would severely affect the fast-paced real estate sector, which is highly labour-sensitive. Over 55,000 flats have been sold in the city, but handing over the possession might get delayed due to this problem, it added.

PBAP president Lali Kumar Jain said, "The PBAP is trying its best to ensure that the customers are not affected. However, a prolonged labour shortage would make this extremely difficult." If the delay increases, then it may lead to cost escalation.

Rohit Gera, executive director, Gera Builders, pointed out that a number of projects in the city had come to a standstill. "There has been a steady decline in the number of construction workers across the city. This is expected to affect the construction progress for around six weeks."

The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) had called a meeting recently to discuss this problem and stressed that there was an urgent need to convince workers over their safety and livelihood in Pune and surroundings.

'Pay higher wages to retain workers'

Pune police commissioner Jayant Umranikar has said the industrial sector needed to ensure the safety of workers and call them back or retain them by paying higher wages.

"There has not been any incident of attack on north Indians in Pune. The reason why workers are quitting the city is just the 'fear-factor' that they have developed. We are trying our best to salvage the situation. However, the industrial sector needs to think of labour welfare and attract them by paying higher wages," he said.