OdishaPolitics

Odisha Govt on Backfoot after DGCA Gives clean Chit on Jay Panda’s Chopper Row

Bhubaneswar: In a big jolt to Odisha Government, Probe into the allegations against former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda of flying a helicopter ‘dangerously’ over Chilika lagoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given ‘clean chit’ to him.

The investigation concluded that there was no violation observed of DGCA and regulation,” read a letter sent by the DGCA to the Director of Bhubaneswar airport.

In a letter to the director of the Biju Patnaik International Airport on October 25, Director, Air Safety, M.J. Singh on behalf of the DGCA, said that the DGCA, with reference to the letter no-2251/SR of the Odisha Police dated September 15, 2018, an investigation was made into the alleged violation of flights by the IMFA helicopter. The investigation concluded that there was no violation observed of the DGCA rules and regulations. “The DGCA, India investigated the complaint of dangerous flying of the helicopter/aircraft over the Chilika Lake on September 18.

On investigation, it was revealed that one helicopter belonging to M/s Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys (IMFA) Ltd, Robinson R44 with registration VT-BDP has flown non-stop cross-country from Bhubaneswar Airport overflying Rajhans, Puri, Konark and finally landed in Garadpur. No other helicopter has flown over Rajhans on September 15,” the letter stated.

Findings

*The letter has also mentioned that the helicopter was airworthy and the flight crew licenses were current and have a reasonable experience.

* No significant deviation in the flight plan timing and actual timing observed.

*Based on fact and evidences, it could not be established that helicopter has flown dangerously below the assigned altitude or have landed at Chilika Lake.

*There was no violation observed of DGCA rule and regulations.

 

Amid allegations of flying over Chilika Lake violating the norms, former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda had appeared in the Director General Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) office in New Delhi on September 24.

On September 17, the Odisha police had seized Baijayant’s helicopter and the hangar on charges of making an undeclared landing on the lake.

This followed a complaint lodged by Assistant Conservator of Forests, Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Binod Acharya in this regard at the Marine Police Station in Arakhakuda in Puri. The FIR mentioned the unauthorised flying of a chopper at a dangerous level, endangering the life and property of tourists, fishermen and locals.

Meanwhile, Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi has confirmed the receipt of DGCA report and said they are reviewing it. The state government, which has launched a massive campaign against Jay Panda over this issue and seized the IMFA Hangar at the Bhubaneswar Airport have lot’s of thing to answer now