No free LPG cylinders for construction workers, clarifies state labour minister | Pune News

Pune: State labour minister Akash Fundkar on Monday said that the labour department has not issued any circular on providing free LPG cylinders to construction workers, dubbing the post circulating on social and electronic media as “false.“Speaking to TOI, Fundkar said the misinformation had caused confusion among workers across the state. “The circular claiming free LPG cylinders to them is completely incorrect. No such directive has been issued by the labour department,” he said, while stressing that the department is committed to ensuring the welfare of workers through proper coordination with developer bodies.He added that the department will work closely with builders and construction companies to ensure adequate LPG supply or alternative fuel arrangements at construction sites, particularly for workers living on-site. “In several states, workers have left for their hometowns due to lack of fuel and other basic amenities. We will convene a meeting with developer bodies to ensure that workers do not face any difficulties at construction sites in Maharashtra,” Fundkar said.Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai) president Manish Jain said, “We have requested our members to extend all support to workers and their families, including providing pre-packed meals and other cooking alternatives. Till date, there has been no major labour movement, and they are largely on-site with work being carried out normally.”However, some workers expressed distress over the situation. “It’s very stressful. We have to cook for our families without proper fuel, and it takes extra time after a long day’s work. Many of us are struggling,” said Ramesh Patil, a construction worker in Pune.Officials noted that construction workers often face multiple challenges on sites, from access to housing and sanitation to fuel supply for cooking. Fundkar said that while govt provides welfare schemes and benefits for registered workers under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) welfare board, free LPG is not currently among these.The state has nearly 32.64 lakh registered construction workers, and the department is working to ensure that their basic needs are met, officials assured.Senior officials from the labour department also reiterated that all welfare schemes and benefits for workers are communicated only through official govt channels. “Workers should rely on verified circulars and not on messages or posts on social media, which can often be misleading,” said an official.The department is planning a statewide drive to check working conditions, fuel supply, and other welfare arrangements at construction sites, particularly in urban centres, where large infrastructure and housing projects are underway, against the backdrop of the ongoing LPG crisis sparked by global tensions in West Asia.Coordination with developers, municipal authorities, and worker representatives will be key to preventing hardships and ensuring continuity of construction work across the state, added officials.