Replying to a calling attention motion of Nazir, the Finance Minister Adbul Rahim Rather said the requirement of airlifting of men and material to and from the remote and inaccessible areas is huge. He said government has, therefore, sent a comprehensive proposal to the Union Home Ministry for operationalising helicopter service for the people living in difficult areas like Inshan, Navapachi Paddar (Kishtwar), Gurez, Tulail( Bandipora, Padam/ Zanaskar/ Lingshed( Kargil), Tangdhar, Keran, Machil( Kupwara), Nubra Valley (Leh), Kargil, on the analogy of existing dispensation for the north-eastern States on wet lease basis.
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The Minister said that Union Ministry of Defence’ allots tonnage under rotary wing (Helicopter), which is utilized in the inaccessible areas. He gave details of allotment and utilization of tonnage under Rotary Wing (Helicopter) for the last two years.
Rather said the services of IAF helicopter are also requisitioned for causality evacuation for which Divisional Commissioners are authorized to requisition the helicopters from IAF authorities. In the event of non-availability of IAF helicopters, the State helicopters are also pressed into service, he maintained.
The Minister said the proposal of wet leasing of MI-172 helicopter to undertake the regular winter courier is lying with Union Ministry of Home Affairs and State Civil Aviation department is pursuing it very vigorously. Once the MI-172 wet leasing is available, the demand will be met and the problems overcome permanently.
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