Shillong, Dec 28: The state government is only taking lease of choppers and not procuring them for the movement of the VIPs.
This was stated by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who categorically refuted a news report of government planning to procure choppers for the state.
He cited substantial costs and technical expertise if there is a procurement.
The report published by a local newspaper was on government’s plan to procure a twin-engine helicopter for transporting VIPs.
Clarifying on the report, Conrad on Thursday said the news report is factually incorrect. “Meghalaya has not come out with any tender or shown any intention to procure any chopper because it is very expensive. We will only be giving out a tender for leasing, a short term lease, on service basis and we pay on hourly basis to the concerned company that is the most efficient way in which we can serve the purpose and at the same time not incur too much of heavy financial burden,” he said.
He justified that need for a dedicated chopper for official and VIP movement as the state currently uses the helicopter services meant for tourists and civil purposes. Hence, when the government is using the chopper, the tourist services are hit, he added.
“This is also being done because most of the time, the chopper that is there that’s meant for tourists and normal sorties meant for Shillong, Tura and Guwahati, they normally get disturbed when there is some VIP movement. Hence, as and when we require the chopper, atleast, by following a procedure, we’ll be leasing it out and using the chopper as and when we require,” he said.
He clarified that the chopper will belong to the service provider, the pilot and the fuel will also be theirs, the state government will only pay on an hourly basis.
Details of tender for leasing helicopter
As per the Request for Proposal (RPF) floated by the Transport Department, ‘Meghalaya government is looking to get a chopper on wet lease of a twin-engine helicopter with a seating capacity of 5-6 people, excluding the crew, and technical specifications in accordance with DGCA norms. The lease will be for a period of three months, which can be extended on the same terms and conditions with mutual consent’.
During the operational period of the agreement that will be signed between the state government and the successful bidder, the helicopter’s vintage cannot be older than ten years at any point.
The helicopter offered should be capable to carry passengers to different places in Meghalaya and outside the state. The vintage of the helicopter should not be more than 10 years at any point of time during the operational period of the agreement. The helicopter should have excellent performance and be technically fit for flights at high altitudes, capable of landing and take-off in narrow valleys and at altitudes up to 10,000 feet, as well as equipped to fly in cloudy weather with passengers and baggage.
Concern over sensationalising news
Terming the media report as ‘completely incorrect’, the CM said this is not the first time that the concerned media house has gotten the facts wrong. “Sensationalising news like this, they may get attention for that day but as they keep doing this, I’m sure that people will lose trust in such media houses who keep coming out with such false news,” he said.
He mentioned that the concerned media house recently claimed of a Rs 1300 crore scam in Tourist Department but later it was found that it was just a Rs 13 crore scheme and there was no scam. A component of Rs 70 lakh was not completed, and accordingly the government has asked the department to follow up with the contractor.
Defamation issue
To a question, Conrad said the issue of filing a defamation case may be decided by the DIPR or the administration
