Hyderabad:Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebrations
of Builders Association of India(BAI)--A.P Centre and All India Managing
Committee and General Committee Meeting of Builders Association of India here at
National Academy of Construction Auditorium, Madhapur recently. He inaugurated
the Celebrations by lighting the traditional lamp amidst the presence of well
over 1000 members of the contractors fraternity come from various parts of the
country. later he released the souvenir brought out by the BAI A.P Centre to
commemorate the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said State Government is
for the fair and healthy competition in the contracting community. We lay more
stress on transperency in finalising tender processes. The State Government is
coming out with a project of Devlopement of 500 acres of land near Gachibowli in
next couple of days, he informed. Three to four IT parks would be coming up
simultaneously in hundred acres each in this area he told the delegates of
Contractors and Builders at the inaugural function of the Golden Jubilee
Celebrations of the BAI A.P Centre.
Speaking further he added that, the irrigation projects have taken a back seat
in the state in the last decade. Now this new government which came into power
five months back lays more emphasis on irrigation proejcts. We would be spending
nearly 3900 crore rupees in the coming year on Irrigation. This is 300% per cent
increase in the amount spent last year, he informed.
The Golden Jubilee Celebratons inaugural function was graced by Mr. Brahma Dutt,
President of BAI, Ponnala Laxmaiah, Minister for Major Irrigation and Dr. Mrs.
J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Tourism among others. Earlier Mr. N. Sachitanand
Reddy Chairman of the BAI A.P Cente welcomed the gathering.
BAI A.P Centre, the body which was formed in the year 1954 by a group of
progressive contractors of Hyderabad State joined together to represent to the
then Hyderabad Government, their grievances/difficulties/problems by registering
the Association with Department of Societies, as Hyderabad Builders’
Association. These founder members of the association include Sri Yakub Ali
Sajanlal, Sri. Y. Partha Sarathi, Sri Y. Govinda, Sri S. Krishnaiah, Sri P.J.
Udani, Sri Bashyam, Sri A.M V. Prasad Rao, Brig. Raju, Sri Durga Ram Prasad and
Sri K.V. Ranga Reddy etc and others. Of all these founding members, Sri. K. V.
Ranga Reddy is the only member alive now.
The organisation within one year of its formation, i.e in the year 1955 merged
with the Builders’ Association of India under the Presidentship of Sri. P.P
Kapadia. This was done on the advise of BAI Head Office. It was known as
Hyderabad Centre which subsequently changed to A.P Centre soon after forming
Andhra Pradesh state on 1st November, 1956 under re-organisation of States as
per the Linguistic basis. The initial membership in the 1954 was 20, which has
over the past five decades grown up to 190 Patron Members, 300 Direct Members
and 3000 affiliated or associated members in twin cities alone. The membership
stands all over the state of A.P at 5000 number. Most of the Patron Members of
A.P Centre are executing contracting works not only in our country and but also
in Gulf Countries competing with International Firms.
The functions of the BAI includes representing to the State and Central
Government from time to time regarding various Acts and Laws which requires
changes on the following issues. "Labour Laws", "ESI", "Provident Fund", "Income
Tax", "Sales Tax", "Arbitration", "Contract Conditions(State & Central)" etc.
It’s objectives include to provide fair deal to the toiling labour and
suggesting various implementable laws for social security for construction
labour. It also promotes unity among Builders and encourages cooperation and
friendly relations among contractors, so that they are benefitted through each
other’s experience, mutual contacts and healthy competition. Among various other
things it also helps its members in technical as well as Techno legal problems,
builds and maintains image of the contracting community, monitors trends in the
material markets, imparts training to its members etc. BAI A. P Centre is the
active member of NAC, which was established at Hyderabad to train Artisans,
Personnel connected with construction industry.
According to Mr. N. Sachitanand Reddy, Chairman of BAI A.P Centre, Hyderabad was
the fourth Centre of BAI after Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. It had hosted two
All India Conventions viz. 5th and 12th in the year of 1960 and 1989.
Some of the noteworthy achievements of the BAI A.P Centre has been the
establishment of National Academy of Construction(NAC) in 1998. The idea was
mooted by Sri. N. Chandra Babu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
It is today is the first of its kind of Institute in the entire country. The
land 167 acres required for the project, was donated by the State Government.
Contractors Executing works for the State Government have agreed to contribute
0.25% of value of contract from their running account bills, as source for
establishment and running NAC. The NAC has totally eight wings. Contractors
Development Institute is one of them which is being managed by BAI, A.P Centre.
The Construction Workers Training Institute(CWTI) is the other constituent of
NAC which has already started its activities by imparting training to
Construction workers in the field of General Supervisor, Mason, Carpenter, Bar
Bender, Plumber, Electrician etc.
-MK
Reachout's News Bureau
November'
2004
