Addressing a press conference at the Press Club on April 17, association president Mahabala Kottari said that ongoing elections, voter list revisions and festival-related travel have led to a large number of migrant workers returning to their native places, severely impacting construction activity in the region.

Kottari noted that the district heavily depends on migrant labourers, particularly from states such as West Bengal and other parts of North India, for skilled construction work. According to estimates, over 2.5 lakh migrant workers are engaged in the sector in Dakshina Kannada, but nearly 90% of them are currently absent.

This has disrupted key construction processes, especially skilled work such as plastering, bar bending and finishing tasks, which rely significantly on experienced labourers. The absence of such a large workforce has brought many ongoing projects to a near standstill.

Apart from labour issues, the sector is also grappling with shortages of essential construction materials. Contractors pointed out that the availability of laterite stones, sand and M-sand has been inconsistent over the past few years, affecting project timelines and costs.

The association highlighted that strict government regulations have impacted the supply of laterite stones. Additionally, sand sourced from non-Coastal Regulation Zone (non-CRZ) areas is not fully suitable for construction purposes, further limiting usable resources.

The shortage of M-sand, a key alternative to natural sand, has also intensified the crisis, making it difficult for contractors to maintain steady work progress.

Due to the combined impact of labour and material shortages, contractors are struggling to complete projects within stipulated deadlines. This has raised concerns about potential legal disputes between contractors and property owners over delays and cost escalations.

Industry representatives warned that prolonged disruption could affect not only builders but also homebuyers and investors, leading to broader economic implications in the district.

Engineer's Association representative Ujwal D'Souza urged the district administration and the state government to take immediate steps to address the crisis. He called for ensuring a steady supply of raw materials and introducing incentive programmes to encourage local workers to take up jobs in the construction sector.

The association emphasised the need for policy support to stabilise the sector, which plays a crucial role in regional development and employment generation.

Several members of the construction and builders' community were present at the press conference, including association vice president Dinakar, secretary Ashok Kulai, Satish Jogi, Arun Raj, and Vinayak Pai of the Canara Builders Association.

The ongoing challenges faced by the construction sector in Dakshina Kannada underline the need for coordinated efforts from both government authorities and industry stakeholders. Addressing labour shortages and ensuring material availability will be key to reviving construction activity and maintaining economic momentum in the region.