By IANS,
New Delhi: The home ministry has given in-principle approval to hiring of one helicopter each by the states affected by Maoist violence for providing air support to anti-Maoist operations, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.
Minister of State of Home Affairs (MHA) Jitendra Singh said that the sanction has been given under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.
“The home ministry has in-principle approved hiring of one helicopter each by the left wing extremist (LWE) affected states for providing air support to anti-Naxal operations, subject to the prior approval of the MHA,” he said.
Singh said that Maharashtra has already hired one helicopter from M/s Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited for anti-Naxal operations.