Expressing disappointment over the alleged suicide of a construction worker who recorded his plight in camera before killing himself, TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has said it was "heart-wrenching" P Venkateswarlu, a plumber, said to be dependent on the construction sector for work, allegedly hanged himself at his house in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Police said he shot a video on his mobile phone saying he was taking the extreme step unable to look after his family due to lack of work. At least three construction workers are reported to have committed suicide in last one month. The deaths have been linked to a slump in Andhra's construction sector following the cancellation of the free sand policy by the YSRCP government. In a video shared by former CM Naidu, the victim has blamed unemployment for his reason for committing suicide. "For the past few months, there is no work and it is becoming difficult to sustain the family. Hence, I am ending my life," he says in the clipping. అయిదు నెలలుగా పనులు లేక, కుటుంబాలు పస్తులు ఉండడం చూడలేక మనోవేదనతో కార్మికులు ఆత్మహత్యలు చేసుకోవడం మనసును కలచివేస్తోంది. సెల్ఫీ వీడియోలతో ఆత్మహత్యలే తమకిక శరణ్యంగా పేర్కొనడం చూసైనా ఈ ప్రభుత్వం మేల్కొనాలి.పనులు కోల్పోయిన కార్మికులకు పరిహారం చెల్లించాలి. pic.twitter.com/NhQAYHFQF1 — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 28, 2019 "It is heart-wrenching to see workers commit suicide due to lack of work in the last five months and unable to see their families starve," Naidu said. TDP MLC D M V Prasad, MLA M Giri and other leaders visited Venkateswarlus house at Gorantla and consoled the family. They offered Rs 2 lakh as relief from the party. The TDP leaders claimed a mason too committed suicide in Guntur district a couple of days ago as there was no work. "Construction activity has come to a standstill due to non-availability of sand. Lakhs of workers in the construction sector are suffering due to lack of work.," they said. Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan said suicides by construction workers have shaken his conscience. He appealed to all political parties to come together in support of the 3.5 million construction workers. He also sought the intervention of the Centre to resolve the crisis. The YSRCP government, which came to power in May this year, cancelled the old sand policy, alleging the existence of a sand mafia headed by TDP members. Mines Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy had then claimed that a new, radical policy will be implemented. “We have created 46 godowns in all the 13 districts where sand is being stored. It will be sold through Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation at Rs 375 per tonne. People can order sand online and private transporters will deliver it by charging a fixed amount per kilometre." However, investors have expressed concern that the move “crippled” the construction industry and was having a ripple effect on related sectors. (Inputs from PTI)
