All security and safety concerns will be taken care of while taking helicopters on rent, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Tuesday.
The helicopters are taken on rent on the basis of a Finance and Planning department order given to the Aviation Department, he told the Assembly.
Baghel was replying to a query by former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on the seventh day of the Budget session.
Singh sought details of the rules and provisions for taking helicopters on rent by the government, the companies providing the services from January 1, 2019 to January 31, 2021, payments made and pending payments.
Baghel said helicopter services were sought from six companies and payments were made on sanctioned rate of per flight per hours, GST and handling charges.
CG Aviator, Raipur, has been paid Rs 1.30 crores from January 1 to January 31, 2021. Another Rs 14.40 crores was paid to five companies till December 31, 2019. In 2020, a total of Rs 8.21 crores was paid to two companies.
Raman Singh said CG Aviator fell under Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) category and asked if it fulfills the Director General of Civil Aviation norms. He wanted that utmost care be taken as it concerns the safety of the Chief Minister.
Baghel in reply said all the norms are being taken care of before taking the helicopter on rent.