Title - All construction works in city come to a standstill for want of sand

JAIPUR: Contractors of the Jaipur Metro project are finding it hard to retain their workforce in the absence of regular supply of bajari (sand). As the work at most of the construction sites has been stopped for want of bajari, the contractors now fear that the labourers might leave in search of alternative work.The development has put a question mark on the Metro deadline. Similar difficulties are being faced by developers and contractors of the affordable housing scheme and the Ghat ki Ghuni project.The disruption in bajari (sand) supply since March 31 has now started showing adverse affects and many have started believing that damage to the construction work due to further delay in bajari supply will be out of control.To hold back labourers from different states without providing them any work has become one of the biggest problems for the contracted companies and developers. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), project director, Lalit Meghnani, said, "We have engaged the labourers in other miscellaneous work at present. However, if work is not resumed in the next five days it will be difficult to stop them.""The situation has become very critical now. Despite many attempts, we have not found any suitable alternative yet. Work cannot be completed within given the deadline if there is more than 10 days' delay," Meghnani said.

On Tuesday, two trucks of bajari were brought to the city from Bikaner by DMRC but officials did not find quality suitable for use in Metro work. "We have tested the quality of the bajari, its suitable for carrying out small works but not for high strength works," and official said.

Apart from the Metro project, the chief minister's ambitious affordable housing project is also facing the heat and developers too are facing the problem of retaining labourers without providing them work. Rajasthan Affordable Housing Developers Association (RAHDA), president, Vinay Joshi, "In this regard, a letter has been sent to principal secretary G S Sandhu on Monday to bring the matter in his notice. We have apprised him that once the labourers are gone it would be very difficult to get them back."

Developers also said getting a complete set of workers requires at least one-month time. "In the absence of sand, work will come to a standstill in the next four days and retaining labourers without work is a costly affair as approximately Rs 80,000 is required per day to retain the labour working on 500 units," Joshi added.

Similarly, as the June 31 deadline for Ghat Ki Ghuni project is approaching nearer, officials feel that any further delay lead to a deadline miss. JDA executive engineer Sanjeev Kumar Jain, said, "The project works come to a standstill and we are waiting for the Supreme Court's decision."