FIR lodged against operators after protests
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 4: Hundreds of pilgrims of Machail Mata in remote Paddar area of district Kishtwar are stranded at Helipad there for the last four days, as the private aircraft companies Pawan Hans and U-Tier have failed to obtain mandatory permission of flying on Paddar -Machail route from the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), New Delhi.
The pilgrims are protesting at the Atholi (Paddar-Gulabgarh) Helipad and entire town for the last two days against the State Government, Divisional and District Administration besides local representatives but no Minister or senior officer from the Administration reached there to take stock of situation and pacify the agitating pilgrims.
Since morning massive protest is going on at Paddar against the Helicopter operators and booking agents besides the Administration. The people not only from Jammu but from various parts of the country have reached there after taking on line advance tickets but Aircraft companies have virtually duped the pilgrims while Government has not come to the rescue of these hapless pilgrims in this remote area where communication system is also in worst condition.
Official sources said 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 made 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 at Paddar this afternoon, but they too didn’t possess permission of flying. Therefore, they too couldn’t operate.
While the Aircraft operators claimed that due to bad weather they could not land at Paddar for the last three days, but the real fact is that they failed to get necessary permission from the DGCA and BCAS and therefore, were not able to face the wrath of pilgrims at the Helipad and preferred delayed arrival there.
Sources however, revealed that ‘some official-operators nexus’ , a few aircraft companies who intended to participate in the tenders were deliberately kept away from the contest by imposing certain condition by the officials connected with the tender. They also 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.
Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar G N Balwan when contacted said that he has spoken to the Pawan Hans and U-Tier management and they told that due to bad weather they could not fly choppers to Paddar. He said one Chopper arrived Paddar last evening while two more arrived today. But they have not received flying permission from DGCA as yet.
The DC further said that they should have managed the permission prior to August 1 because from first of this month, they had to start operation as per agreement. “This is serious issue, the public is suffering. I will serve them notice and also black-list them for any future operation,” the DC maintained.
Responding to a question, the Deputy Commissioner said that he also spoke to DGCA office in Delhi today and they have told that their team will fly to Paddar-Machail tomorrow and after satisfying themselves they will sanction permission of flying. ” We have also told the Heli -operators/ agents to refund the money of the pilgrims immediately,” he said.
Director, Airport Authority Jammu, DK Gautam on being contacted said that both the air-craft companies can fly from Jammu or any other airport here. But for flying to pilgrimage route like Paddar or elsewhere, they need special clearance from Director General Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). If they seek clearance from there, then they can fly. He maintained that this was not his jurisdiction and they have to apply to DGCA, New Delhi.
Manager, U-Tier Company at Paddar, Sanjay Koul told the Excelsior on phone that due to bad weather conditions, chopper could not fly to the area from Jammu. He said yesterday after two attempts one chopper reached Paddar. He said Wing Commander Mahapatra is over all incharge of operation here but for want of permission of further flying they are unable to undertake operation. He said as soon as the permission is received, they will clear pendency first. Koul said some pilgrims are also being given refund. He admitted that they had done advance booking but a provision of 20-25 % on spot tickets for pilgrims have been kept on the request of Administration.
A pilgrim Rajinder Sharma from Mumbai told the Excelsior on phone from Paddar Helipad that he along with seven other passengers was stranded there for the last three days. He said they had obtained on-line ticket on July 26 but here they were surprised to see no helicopter. They were feeling cheated by the company. He said the operators here were not giving satisfactory reply. They were telling weather is not good, then told DC is not giving permission to fly and today, it was told by the local DySP that they had no permission to fly.
One Sanjeev Kohli from Jammu, who along with his old mother and three other family members reached Paddar on August 2 told the Excelsior that there is total mess at Paddar. Pilgrims facing hardships for want of necessary facilities. There was no power last night. He had taken helicopter tickets in advance but they are stranded for the last two days. There is no confirmation of flying even tomorrow. There was no SDM, no Additional DC or ACR available there for two days to pacify the public. The SDM arrived hardly this evening from shrine. He directed the operators to refund the money to the pilgrims. He said denying services to the pilgrims despite advance ticket is criminal offence and he along with his cousin Ajay Salgotra (Advocate) lodged an FIR at Atholi Police Station against the Pawan Hans Aircraft company today. Earlier, the police was reluctant but later, they entertained the written complaint, he added.
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