Covid-19 pandemic hits construction of new Secretariat

Labourers engaged in construction work contracted COVID, many left amid fears of surge in cases

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had its impact on the ongoing construction of the new integrated secretariat complex. A section of the labour force engaged in the construction works contracted Covid-19 and was quarantined while another chunk of workers left the work place amid fears of surge in the number of cases in the second wave which was felt since March this year. As against 1,000 workers engaged in the works on a daily basis, less than 200 are working at present, thus slowing down the entire construction process. “Works have been slowed down since the onset of the second wave of Covid-19. Even those engaged now are working under fear of contracting the virus,” a senior official said adding steps were taken to administer the first dose of the vaccine to those engaged in the works.