Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; September 23, 2014)

Construction work on the sets of Ashutosh Gowariker’s film, Mohenjo Daro in Bhuj, was apparently stalled for three days after members of Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union issued a non- cooperation notice owing to non- payment of dues.

Gangeshwar Srivastav, general secretary of the union, says, “Our members were working on the set for more than a month, but no payment was made to them. They were not even given money for their regular expenses and we had to send our people money so that they could perform the Vishwakarma pooja on September 17.’’

Srivastava alleges that despite reminders from the union, the production house did not make any payment to their members. He says, “We were threatened with legal action if the work was stopped.”

Gowariker apparently lodged a complaint with the Indian Film and Television Producers Council alleging that the workers had stopped work resulting in financial losses for the makers and he also sought compensation for the same.

When contacted, Lawrence D’Souza, executive producer of the film, said that they had the workers’ cheque ready. “Since the set construction is taking place in Bhuj, going there and giving them the cheque took some time. That’s about it.”

Turns out that the producers have cleared the payment of Rs 18 lakh and now the workers are said to have resumed work on the sets.