Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 19: Taking serious note of air service companies Heritage Aviation and Pawan Hans breaching the agreement, District Magistrate (DM) Angrez Singh Rana today imposed Rs 1 lakh penalty on them.
For providing the air services to the pilgrims on the eve of Shri Hud Mata Yatra, which commenced on July 18 and will conclude on July 23 and Shri Machail Mata Yatra commencing from July 25, bids for helicopter operation from Kishtwar-Kaltoot Sirchi (Dacchan) Kalkoot and Gulabgarh-Machail were invited.
Subsequently, the contract was allotted to Heritage and Pawan Hans for carrying out sorties between Kishtwar, Hud Mata and Gulabgarh, Machail.
The Heritage Aviation and Pawan Hans had to take a recce of the route of Kishtwar, Sirchi, Kaikoot (Hud Mata) on July 16, but both the parties failed to station the helicopter on the said date at Kishtwar and also failed to do the recce of the routes.
Both the air companies failed to provide the services to the pilgrims and it caused law and order problem. Company Managers were requested time and again but they did not bother and failed to provide the services.
As per the agreement, the parties including Heritage Aviation and Pawan Hans are liable for imposition of penalty of Rs 5000 per scheduled flying hour (subject to a maximum of Rs 50000 per day).
Keeping in view the problems faced by the pilgrims which created law and order problem, the DM has imposed penalty to the tune of Rs 1 lakh on both parties for breach of agreement/contract.
The DM has warned both the operators to remain careful in future, otherwise their case will be recommended to the Director General of Civil Aviation for blacklisting.
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