The construction sector in the state has been in dire straits for a week. The non-availability of construction materials due to the indefinite strike called by the quarry owners is the main reason. Industries Minister P Rajeev has warned that if the quarries are closed continuously, their permits will be canceled, but the quarry owners are acting as if they do not care about such threats from the government. They are not ready to call off the strike or operate the quarries. Moreover, the price of all kinds of quarry products had been increased significantly before the strike. The minister says that in a situation where an increase of two rupees was needed, the price hike was between ten and twenty rupees. All the materials like rock, metal, msand, rock dust, etc. are charged at exorbitant prices. It should also be acknowledged that they have good reasons to raise prices like this. One of them is the rampant corruption that exists in the sector. If a load of rock, sand, or construction material is to reach the site, the police on the way have to be paid a specified rate. In proportion to the increase in the price of the products, the bribe amount will also increase. Even if the operation of the quarry is legal, all the officials concerned have to be bribed and appeased. Ultimately it is the consumers who bear the full cost of this.

Instead of taking the issue lightly by saying that the permit of the quarries will be canceled if the strike continues, the government should urgently consider how to end the strike itself. While the minister says that the government has not created any situation for the steep hike in the prices of quarry products, it should be remembered that the government order hiking the rate is still in place. How can it be said that a hike in the royalty fee from Rs 24 per tonne to Rs 48 is not much? Although the government has the authority to regulate the prices of quarry products, there are no mechanisms for that here. The consumer has to depend on the benevolence of the quarry owners in this regard at all times.

This is the time when maximum construction activities take place in the state. A quarry strike at this time would throw off many plans. Stakeholders must realize that the stagnation of the manufacturing sector, which provides the largest number of jobs, will cause a lot of agonies.

The huge increase in fees related to building construction along with the increase in the price of construction materials is weighing heavily on the people. Contractors and builders working in this field are worried about not being able to complete the works undertaken. The government and the quarry owners should find a way to solve the current crisis without fighting on the basis of rules and regulations.