Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 5: The ‘grounded’ private helicopter operators- Pawan Hans and U-Tier, were today given ‘green nod’ to fly on Paddar-Machail route after a three-member team from the office of Director General Civilian Aviation (DGCA) including an official from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security from New Delhi air-dashed to remote Paddar-Machail area of district Kishtwar and gave necessary clearance after inspection.
As reportedly exclusively by the Excelsior today about the plight of hundreds of pilgrims stranded at Paddar Helipad for the last four days, the State Administration and higher authorities in Delhi came into action and DGCA gave necessary clearance to the Helicopter Companies to fly choppers on Paddar-Machail and Kishtwar-Machail routes, thus, providing big relief to the helpless Machail pilgrims.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Paddar (Atholi), Sanjeev Rana told the Excelsior on phone that a special team of DGCA officials from Delhi reached Paddar at around 11.30 AM today. The officials immediately after landing started inspection of the Helipad at Paddar and surroundings. After spending some time there and inquiring about all the safety measures taken by the aircraft operators, they moved to Machail Mata shrine site, where another Helipad has been constructed by the civil authorities.
The team members after spending about two and half hours there and satisfying themselves, talked to the officials connected with the flying operation and then after discussing the matter with the top officials at Delhi on phone, gave necessary clearance of operation to the Pawan Hans and U-Tier officials on the spot.
The SDM further disclosed that the operation actually commenced at around 2.15 pm with two Helicopters, two more are likely to join tomorrow. One helicopter of U-Tier left to Jammu this afternoon to drop the visiting team officials at Jammu. He said the priority is to clear the pendency first. Rana said as reported by the Pawan Hans operators at Paddar, there were about 350 pilgrims stranded at Paddar while about 225 pilgrims of U-Tier operators were awaiting their turn at the Helipad.
Referring to the facilities, the SDM said that there was Langar operating at Paddar base camp while all the departments are taking care of electricity, water and food supply. There is no hotel or but sarai but people stay in the houses of locals. Even the rooms at the rate of Rs 500 per night are easily available. Some people offer free stay to the pilgrims there. He said the Yatra has started moving smoothly now.
Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, GN Balwan when contacted said that five day wait for the Helicopter passengers/ pilgrims on Paddar-Machail Mata Route came to end this afternoon when the DGCA gave clearance to the Helicopter companies today after inspection. He said the operation commenced smoothly after 2 pm today and two choppers are carrying sorties smoothly as reported by the SDM, Paddar Sanjeev Rana.
Replying to a question, the DC said he had given ultimatum to both the aircraft companies to get necessary permission of flying by 2 pm or vacate the Helipad operation land at Paddar and Machail. The DC said that he had also spoken strongly to the DGCA authorities about plight of the stranded pilgrims who were being harassed for no fault of their at the remote Paddar Helipad. He said the Divisional Commissioner Jammu also took up the matter with them. “We today manage to get the problem solved and provide relief to the stranded pilgrims. Some pilgrims were provided refund and they went on foot while some returned from there only,” the DC said.
It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of pilgrims of Machail Mata in remote Paddar area of Kishtwar district remained stranded for five days at Helipad as the private aircraft companies Pawan Hans and U-Tier failed to obtained mandatory permission of flying on Paddar –Machail route from the DGCA and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security , New Delhi.
The pilgrims kept protesting at the Atholi (Paddar-Gulabgarh) Helipad for three days against the State Government, Divisional and District Administrations besides local representatives but no Minister or senior officer from the Administration visited there to take stock of situation and pacify the agitating pilgrims. The pilgrims not only from Jammu but from various parts of the country reached there after taking on line advance tickets but Aircraft companies, virtually duped the pilgrims . The concerned BJP MLA/ MoS from Kishtwar, Sunil Sharma could not be contacted despite several attempts for his remarks. His both the phones were found switched off.
A senior official disclosed that Pawan Hans and U-Tier Helicopter- companies had been allotted contract of flying from Kishtwar and Paddar to Machail Mata. As per agreement, they had to start operation from August 1, 2017. The companies through agents started online booking and hundreds of passengers/ pilgrims obtained the tickets. As per their turn, they started reporting to Helipad at (Atholi) Paddar but for the first two days, no chopper was available at Paddar. Only one chopper of U-Tier company landed at Paddar on the evening of August 3, that too, after the pilgrims started protesting. This Helicopter took two sorties to Shrine with their staff and logistics but the chopper was grounded by the DGCA, for want of necessary permission of flying and clearance from New Delhi. Two Choppers of Pawan Hans arrived Paddar on Friday, but they too, had no permission of flying.
Sources revealed that with ‘officials-operators nexus,’ a few aircraft companies who wanted to participate in the tenders process were deliberately kept away from the contest by imposing certain conditions by the officials connected with the tender. Later, who were debarred from contest, lodged complaint with the DCCA New Delhi in this connection. Due to vested interests of some people in the Administration and Government, the helpless pilgrims have been made to suffer.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel