‘How will people eat?’: Construction curbs leave Gurugram workers facing a bleak Diwali

As winter settles in the National Capital Region (NCR), daily-wage laborers and small contractors in Gurugram and Manesar face an uncertain holiday season. Since November 5, construction activities that produce dust have been halted under the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) 15-day restrictions. Virender Kumar, a 55-year-old labor contractor, explains that these measures have left his workers without work just before the holiday of Diwali.

Kumar estimates that 60-70% of construction workers in the Gurugram-Manesar area are currently idle. Many have not been paid for work completed before the restrictions took effect, with some awaiting wages for over a month. The laborers are left wondering how they will make ends meet, dubbing the holiday a "black Diwali."

While developers in Gurugram acknowledge the disruptions caused by the dust-reduction measures, they argue that the restrictions are manageable. Rajan Yadav, Director at Roots Developers, notes that activities such as excavation, brickwork, and plastering have slowed down but not ceased entirely. Developers are using the time to service heavy machinery and regulate material deliveries.

Some are even providing accommodation and food to retain their workforce and plan to introduce additional shifts once the restrictions are lifted.

Despite these efforts, informal laborers remain concerned about receiving payment for their work. As Diwali arrives, these workers find themselves without income while contractors hold off on releasing payments. The uncertainty surrounding their livelihoods leaves many laborers anxious about how they will afford to return home.