The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Construction industry strike enters second day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Construction industry strike enters second day

Staff Reporter

‘Strike is a complete success following overwhelming support by construction workers and public’

TIRUPUR: Construction activity was hit for the second day on Tuesday as the strike by builders and construction workers, urging the Central and State Governments to bring down raw material costs entered the second day in Tirupur.

Tirupur Civil Engineers’ Association and Tirupur Building Contractors’ Association commenced a week-long strike in the town on Monday joining hands with many trade unions, including Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Marumalarchi Thozhilalar Front and Anna Tholirsanga Peravai.

Construction of private and Government buildings, storm water drains, and bridges were affected as the contractors have stopped work.

Association sources said the strike was a complete success following the overwhelming support by construction workers and the public.

Spiralling prices

Tirupur Civil Engineers’ Association president K. Shanmugaraj said they were protesting for the welfare of the public who had been badly hit by spiralling prices of cement, sand, brick and steel.

The associations and unions demanded that the Centre and State Governments take proactive steps to curb the prices of cement and steel.

Tirupur Building Contractors’ Association president A. Kumar said the contractors could not execute government works owing to escalating prices.

As labour wages are high in Tirupur compared to neighbouring towns, any contractor who took up Government developmental works such as construction of buildings or bridges, would definitely end up in huge lose, he said.

Though contractors were eager to take up works and cooperate with municipalities and other Government bodies, they could not do so due to rise in construction material costs, he added.

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