PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
A delegation led by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Karan Mahara met the chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Wednesday and expressed deep concern on the increasing cases of Helicopter accidents in Char Dham Yatra. The delegation handed over a six point memorandum to the CS.
In the meeting Mahara said that in the last 40 days, five helicopter accidents have occurred in Char Dham Yatra and 13 people have died in them. He claimed that these accidents are happening due to lackadaisical aviation policy of the State. Mahara said that there are no clear norms for operation of Helicopters in the State and the regulations of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) are being openly flouted.
He said that no account of the number of sorties and landings is maintained. Mahara claimed operation of out-dated helicopters and uncontrolled flights are the reason behind the spurt in helicopter accidents.
These unregulated operations of helicopters are also causing environmental damage.
The PCC president demanded that a transparent aviation policy in accordance with the DGCA and ATC should be prepared and strictly implemented in the State.
In view of the increasing cases of road accidents, Mahara said that hill driving licenses should be made mandatory for driving four wheelers in the mountainous parts of the State.
The vice president of Uttarakhand Congress Suryakant Dhasmana, media advisor Amarjeet Singh, spokesperson Sheeshpal Singh Bisht, Mahanagar president Jaswinder Singh Gogi and other leaders were part of the delegation.
