By IANS
Ranchi : The Jharkhand government is raring to go after the Maoist guerrillas who have stepped up violence, but it has a problem. A Dhruv helicopter bought specially for anti-Maoist operations has remained grounded as the state government is yet to pay for the chopper.
The state government paid Rs.2 million to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), makers of Dhruv, for the helicopter a few months back. But it is yet to pay the HAL the balance of Rs.1.5 million towards the chopper price. Pending the payment, the state-run firm has asked the government not to fly the chopper.
“We will soon make the remaining payment and the helicopter can be used for the purpose it was purchased,” Chief Minister Madhu Koda said.
Security personnel find it difficult to launch an operation against the rebels due to the topography of the state. Maoists use their knowledge of hilly, forest regions to their advantage.
Jharkhand wanted a chopper equipped with latest technology and weapons systems to help security forces tackle Maoists. Now it has one.
But not only has the state government failed to pay for the chopper, it also has no pilots who have experience of flying Dhruv.
Jharkhand has two pilots: chief pilot Ajay Kumar Srivastav and wing commander Animesh Mukherjee. They have routine flying experience, but they do not have any experience of anti-insurgency operations.
State officials also said Mukherjee was quitting the job to join a private company. Flying Dhruv requires two pilots, according to the norms, they added.
The state government would soon put out advertisements for pilots, and the process of hiring them would be completed with9in three months, a home department official told IANS.
But police officials doubt whether Jharkhand will get the pilots soon.
“The maximum package the state government can offer is Rs.800,000 per annum while private airlines offer a minimum package of Rs.1.2 million per annum,” a police official involved in the anti-Maoist drive said, declining to be named in the report.