By Varun Singh

The Builders’ Association Of India (BAI), has written to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray ‘Saheb’ to issue fresh guidelines for the construction industry.

On Sunday night the government of Maharashtra came up with fresh restrictions to tackle the growing numbers of Corona patients in the city and the state.

The SOP’s for the construction industry by the state government mentioned, the following points.

Construction Activity –
a) To be allowed only for sites where labourers are living on site. Movement to and fro from outside must be avoided, except for the purposed of material movements.
b) Every one engaged in the activity to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per criteria of GOI and till get vaccinated must carry a negative RTPCR test result certificate, which will be valid for 15 days. This rule will come into effect from 10th April, 2021
c) Defaults will lead to a fine of 10000/- for the developer of the construction site and repeated defaults may lead to closure of the site till existence of notification of COVID 19 epidemic.
d) lf a worker is found positive he or she would be allowed medical leave and cannot be discontinued during this absence for this reason. He or she will be entitled for full wages that he or she might have earned had he or she not contracted corona.

Builders’ Association says that Government of Maharashtra’s recent order outlining new SOP’s threatens to undo all the positive developments of the last few months.

ALLOW ANITGEN TEST

The letter by Builders’ Association Of India reads, “Saheb, RTCPR test is lengthy and time consuming process and the results are available only after three or four days. On the contrary, the ANTIGEN TEST is the newest coronavirus screening method, which detects proteins that are parts of the coronavirus. This is done in almost the same method as the RTPCR – that is by using nasal fluid in a swab. ANTIGEN TEST is able to give the results quicker than RTPCR and is not as expensive. Hence, we request that ANTIGEN TEST be also allowed.”

ON VACCINATION FOR ALL

Regarding vaccination, the Associations says, as the majority of the construction industry workers are below 45 years of age, the criteria for the vaccination decided by the Government of India i.e. above 45 years, may create hurdles in the implementation of the decision of Maharashtra Government to vaccinate all the persons engaged in the construction industry.

ALLOW ARCHITECTS & CONSULTANTS TO FUNCTION

The letter further stated, “Saheb, Government of Maharashtra has allowed construction activity. But, construction activity is dependent on lot of vendors and service providers. Construction activity also requires lot of back office support – drawings, plans, designs, schedules, finances, etc. If they are not there, construction sites cannot operate.”

They further want that just like offices of advocates have been allowed to remain open, offices of Architects, Licensed Surveyors, Engineers, Structural Engineers, Licensed Plumbers and other consultants should be allowed to operate their offices with atleast 50% strength. It will be ensured that the personnel either get vaccinated or go for ANTIGEN TEST.

FESTIVAL SALES WILL BE IMPACTED

With festivals on their way, the letter by Builders’ Association of India has stated, “Saheb, ‘Gudi Padwa 2021’ is coming on Tuesday 13th April, 2021 and will be followed by many important Hindu festivals – Akshaya Tritiya on Friday, May 14, 2021 is one to mention, and many people book flats during these period.”

They say if the back office (sales office) of the builders are closed, prospective buyers will face lot of problem, builders will loose out on business and Government will loose out on Stamp Duty. Hence, these offices need to be allowed to be open by observing proper SOP’s.

ISSUE FRESH GUIDELINES

Finally the Association submitted, “We request you to please consider issuing fresh guidelines, specifically for the construction industry.”

The letter is signed by Mohinder Rijhwani, Chairman, Mumbai Centre Builders’ Association of India.

Also Read: Construction Activity To Be Allowed Where Labourers Are Living On Site

The post Builders’ Want ‘Saheb’ To Issue Fresh Guidelines appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

From Monday serious restrictions have been imposed by the Maharashtra governmennt to tackle the growing COVID 19 positive numbers.

With Weekend Lockdown in place and even during day not more than 5 people together being allowed. There are some do’s and don’t’s for the construction industry too.

Construction activity to be allowed only for sites where labourers are living on site.

Movement to and for from outside must be avoided except for the puprose of material movements.

Everyone engaged in the activity to get vaccinated at the earliest as per criteria of Government of India.

Till they get vaccinated, must carry a negative RTPCR test result certificate which will bbe valid for 15 days, (This rule will come into effect from April 10, 2021).

Defaults will lead to a fine of Rs 10,000 for the developer of the construction site and rpeated defaults may lead to closure of the site till existence of notificationn of COVID 19 epidemic.

If a construction worker is found psotiive he or she would be allowed medical leave and cannot be discontinued during this absence for this reason.

The construction worker shall be entitled for full wages that he or she might have earned had he or she not contacted Corona.

This means at sites where the developer has made arranngement for the construction workers only those project shall be functional.

According to many developer most construction workers are still in Mumbai.

Ashok Mohanani, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra when asked, whether workers are movinng out? He said, “No migrant workers are very much at work.”

His feelings were echoed by Rajesh Prajapati of CREDAI MCHI. Prajapati when asked whether migrant workers are again going back, he said, “No, not yet, some workers had gone for Holi, this an annual phenomenon and nothing to do with Corona. We expect few to fo in April and May for season of marriages.”

However, Anand Gupta, Spokesperson for Builder Association of India had a bit different view to the question of whether construction workers were returning back.

Gupta said, “Partially yes, actually they are under fear, that again there can be lockdown and they will be without work and pay. They can again get trapped. They are also under their family pressure.”

Also Read: During Day More Than 5 People Together Not Allowed

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