By IANS,
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued notices to private aviation companies for flouting norms on the use of choppers and private aircraft during the election campaign, a top official said here Tuesday.
“We have received reports from states and the Election Commission regarding violation of norms in the use of choppers and aircraft by political parties during the ongoing poll campaign,” S.N.A. Zaidi, director general of the aviation regulator DGCA, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.
“We have taken action. We have issued notices to the concerned companies operating these aircraft,” he added.
The DGCA had issued a circular March 31, banning the use of private planes of business houses for poll campaigning.
The circular had stated that only state-owned or non-scheduled flights should be used for campaigning since these were better maintained than private planes.
Zaidi added that the regulator would also look into the complaints regarding the use of single-engine aircraft for the poll campaign.
Aviation companies have been renting choppers and small aircraft to political parties at a charge of Rs.150,000 and above for an hour. The hiring charge for larger aircraft is much more.