The State Government had constituted a committee for the use of helicopter in near future. The committee will give its suggestion for chopper services in the tribal areas of the State as well as that being used by the State Government. Government spokesperson reveals it today.
Spokesperson said that the meeting is schedule to discuss it on 2nd July, 2011 and Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh. Principal Secretary, Tribal Development, Principal Secretary, Finance, Principal Secretary, General Administration, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, and Director General, Civil Aviation will participate in it.
He said that the State Government had been hiring the chopper on contract/lease basis to provide the facility to the people of the tribal areas, VIP’S and VVIP’s. The state Government had hired the MI-172 helicopter from Jackson Airways, on contract basis from September, 2010 to August, 2011 but as the services provided by this private airline was not found satisfactory the contract was terminated on 21st May, 2011. The State Government then hired the helicopter from Mescos Airlines Ltd. on contract basis upto 31st August, 2011.
He said that a sum of more than Rs. 3.12 crore were spent taking the services of helicopters to uplift the stranded or unwell people from tribal areas, VIP’S and VVIP’S, adding that 21722 people, mainly from tribal subdivision of Pangi and Lahaul-Spiti were provided helicopter services from 17th March to 20th May,2011.
