By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 28: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has defended the government’s move to lease a helicopter to transport VIPs and VVIPs across the state and beyond.
He said, contrary to reports, the government has not come out with any tender or shown any intention to procure a chopper because it is very expensive.
The Chief Minister explained that the government would only issue a tender for short-term leasing of a chopper, payable hourly to the company assigned, for optimum utilization of the service without spending too much.
He justified the need for a dedicated chopper for official and VIP movements as the state currently uses helicopter services for tourists and civilians.
“This is also being done because the chopper is meant for tourists and normal sorties for Shillong, Tura, and Guwahati normally get disturbed when there is some VIP movement. Hence, by following a procedure, we will be leasing out and using the chopper as and when we require,” he said.
Sangma clarified that the chopper will belong to the service provider, and the pilot and the fuel will also be theirs. The state government will only pay on an hourly basis, he said.
The state government has invited applications for the wet lease of a twin-engine helicopter with a seating capacity of five to six people excluding the crew and adhering to the technical specifications of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The lease will be for three months, extendable on the same terms and conditions with mutual consent.
During the operational period of the agreement to be signed between the state government and the successful bidder, the helicopter’s vintage cannot be older than 10 years at any point.
The document states that the helicopter must fly flawlessly, be technically qualified for high-altitude flights, be able to land and take off in small valleys, fly up to 10,000 feet, and be outfitted to carry people and gear during cloudy weather.
However, the government’s decision attracted flak with many pointing out that Meghalaya, India’s second-poorest state, can ill-afford such a luxury.
Former MLA George Lyngdoh termed the move as an example of crony capitalism at the cost of the people.
CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing said implementing the decision would be a gross misuse of public funds.
Many social media users have also slammed the government’s move, which they said would soon make Meghalaya the poorest state in the country.
Some said the political leaders and officials should bear the expenditure on the helicopter and not touch the public money.
“We are stuck in traffic and moving on roads filled with potholes because of the incompetent and corrupt government with no vision,” a social media user wrote.