After turning down the proposal of purchasing a new aircraft as part of its austerity measures, Haryana Government has now given the go ahead to purchase a State plane and is all set to float the tenders for the same.
Haryana Civil Aviation Minister Ram Bilas Sharma has directed the Department concerned to start the process for purchasing a new aircraft for the State Government. Besides, the Haryana Government has approached Rajasthan Government to hire one of their two State aircrafts.
The need for purchasing the new aircraft is felt after the State Government’s 10-seater aircraft — Beech Super King Air B-200 — was damaged in a crash at Chandigarh airport on March 27 last year. The then Governor Jagannath Pahadia, his wife, and eight others on board had a miraculous escape in the crash.
Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar after coming to the power last year had turned down the proposal to buy a new state aircraft for VVIPs, including the Chief Minister and the State Governor. The proposal could have cost the State exchequer more than `50 crore and was rejected as part of Government’s austerity drive.
Talking to The Pioneer, Haryana Civil Aviation Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that an approval has been given to the Department concerned to start the process for purchasing a new aircraft for the State Government. The Department has been directed to follow the prescribed procedure and float tenders for purchasing the new aircraft.
“Talks are on with the Rajasthan Government to hire services of one of their State aircrafts. I have taken up the issue with Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje but things are yet to be finalised. A meeting in this regard will be convened by Chief Minister Manohar lal soon,” said Ram Bilas.
As per the information, Rajasthan Government has two state aircrafts including a five-seater King Air C90 A and seven-seater King Air B 200. The planes are used for the movement of the Governor, Chief Minister and other VIPs visiting the State.
With no aircraft of its own from past more than a year, Haryana Government has spent around `2.70 crore to fly its VVIPs in the past 10 months, as per the information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) by an SAS Nagar resident.
The RTI information stated, Haryana Government hired helicopters or aircraft from four private aviation companies — Arrow Aircraft Sales and Charters Pvt ltd, Air Charter Services Pvt ltd, Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt ltd and Silverline Aviation Pvt ltd 57 times — and has so far paid them `1.29 crore.
The RTI information also revealed that the State Government is yet to pay `1.41 crore spent on flights between February and July, 2015.