Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)

Mangaluru, Apr 17: The construction sector in Dakshina Kannada district is facing a severe slowdown due to a shortage of skilled labourers and raw materials, the District Civil Contractors’ Association has alleged.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Club on Friday, Association president Mahabala Kottari said that workers from various states have returned to their hometowns due to ongoing elections, voter list revision processes, and festivals. As a result, construction activities in the district have been disrupted.

He stated that the sector has already been struggling for the past few years due to the scarcity of essential materials such as laterite stones, sand, and M-sand. The current situation has worsened as a majority of migrant workers mainly from states like West Bengal and other parts of North India have not returned after leaving for their native places.

According to him, over 2.5 lac migrant workers are engaged in the district, and nearly 90% of them are currently absent. Skilled work such as plastering and bar bending largely depends on these workers, making the situation more critical.

The association also pointed out that strict government regulations have affected the supply of laterite stones, while sand from non-CRZ areas is not fully usable. In addition, the shortage of M-sand has further impacted construction activities.

Due to these challenges, contractors are unable to complete projects on time, leading to potential legal disputes with building owners.

Engineer’s Association representative Ujwal D’Souza urged the district administration and the state government to ensure adequate supply of raw materials and to introduce incentive programmes to encourage local workers to join the sector.

Association vice president Dinakar, secretary Ashok Kulai, Satish Jogi, Arun Raj, and Vinayak Pai of the Canara Builders Association were also present at the press meet.