Hi-rises depend on 'slave' labour (http://www.oheraldteam.com)
By Guilherme Almeida MARGAO, NOV 15 -- The high-rise buildings standing in the cities and towns might be the outcome of their hard work and labour, but they themselves have to contend with living in inhuman and deplorable conditions at the construction sites. Atleast, this is a reality facing many a migrant labourer at some of the construction sites dotting this commercial hub, where basic amenities like safe drinking water, proper housing and sanitary facilities are given a go-by. Housed in dingy rooms made of tin sheets, with poor or no proper illumination, the inmates has no facility for sanitation worth its name around the construction site. Worse still, there's hardly a toilet attached to these dwelling unit, forcing the labourers to use open spaces to answer nature's call. Even where makeshift toilets are constructed, for instance at Borda, the waste is discharged in the open drain, creating nuisance for the neighbourhood. The less said the better over the drinking water facility. The same water used for construction and bathing is consumed for drinking purpose, a survey has noted. And, come evening one would find labourers taking a bath in the open, creating a pool for mosquitoes to breed. Says Ramesh Yadav, a labourer: "Normally, the labour would accept what is provided by the builders. For most of us, we look for a roof over our heads. Other facilities are secondary." This may or may not be true for the migrants, but certainly the situation has been taken note of by the civic authorities, not out of any love for the labour class but on the worsening health front. A survey conducted by the Margao Municipality has showed lack of anti-malaria measures at the construction sites, which have become the breeding ground for mosquitoes. In fact, the MMC sanitary cell has suggested to initiate action against builders, bringing in migrant labour and not providing them with necessary sanitary facilities. "The prevailing situation might give rise to diseases like malaria, filaria and dengue", a MMC official said. However, the civic body has declined to take the blame for the impasse. "This is the responsibility of the health officer issuing NOC for a construction site to inspect the area and find out if the labourers are given the sanitary facilities or not", another official added. In this connection, a suggestion has been made by the sanitary cell to write to the health office to make necessary provision for proper housing, toilets for the labourers. "Yes, the situation is deplorable", admitted, the health officer, attached to the Urban Health Office, here. But, it seems unlikely that sanitation would undergo a change atleast in the near future for lack of will to take on the errant builders. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
