Helicopters hired for 288 days during last 2 years

Raipur, Mar 02: Questions were raised in Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday over ignorance of safety standards in the choppers hired by the state government. Replying to a question raised by the former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that agreements were already finalised with aviation companies. He emphasised that there would be no compromise with the safety parameters.
Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh raised the issue of hiring helicopters during Question Hour in Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday. He asked what are the rules and provisions to hire helicopters.
Singh asked when and how many times did the state government hire helicopters during the period between January 1, 2019 and January 31? Singh also sought to specify the duration of using helicopters on rent and the companies from whom the helicopters were hired. He also sought to know the rate at which rental was paid. He asked which companies were paid the rents.
In reply Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that helicopters were hired from six companies for 288 days in the last two years and payment of Rs 14 crore 40 lakh 684 had been paid as rental. He said that two aviation companies will have to be paid Rs 1 crore 72 lakh 98 thousand 310.
According to Raman Singh CG Aviation is a proprietor firm which does not have non schedule operator permit. This raises question over safety, he said. In reply Baghel said that agreement with aviation companies were finalised in 2013. From 1 January 2019 to 31 January 2021, a total of 6 companies were paid as per the approved rate, GST and handling charge per flight hour, depending on the type of helicopters.