SRINAGAR: An amount of Rs 504.17 lakhs had been spent on state aircrafts and helicopters on fuel and other charges for flying VIPs in Jammu and Kashmir during the year 2015.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh used the highest 35 times state helicopters while Governor N N Vohra, mostly visiting Pahalgam and other areas in connection with last year’s Amarnath yatra, 22 times.
This information was given in the Legislative Assembly by the Government in reply to an un-starred question by Altaf Ahmad Wani today. The reply said that during the period from January Ist, 2015 to December 31, 2015 an amount of Rs 393.84 lakh has been expended on maintenance, inspection of two helicopters and one fixed wing plan while Rs 14.09 lakh paid as landing charges, insurance charge Rs 16.92 lakh an fuel charges Rs 79.32 lakh.
Interestingly the reply said on June 1, 2015 government used the helicopter from Nehru Helipad, which is adjacent to Raj Bhavan to Srinagar while Dr Singh also used the helicopter for same distance on January 7, 2016 and April 16, 2016.
The helicopters and state plane have been used 106 times by VVIPs and other dignitaries during the period from January 2015 to April 2016.
Ms Mufti after becoming Chief Minister of the state has used ten times state plane and helicopters, mostly between Srinagar-Jammu and twice to Delhi in April this year. (AGENCIES)
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