Helipads: Probe into Construction of 450 Helipads for V K Pandian’s Rides | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Days after commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena spoke about the need for a thorough probe into V K Pandian’s helicopter rides, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday said the govt will look into how 450 helipads were constructed to land the chopper carrying the bureaucrat-turned-politician.
Pandian, a close aide of former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, took helicopter rides between Feb and Sept last year when BJD was in power to interact with the public and take their feedback.For this, helipads were constructed across the state.
“We will look into who bore the cost of helicopter rides. Clarity has to be brought to this aspect. It needs to be thoroughly probed. At govt level, a helipad was being constructed wherever the helicopter was landing. Government money was being spent. He (Pandian) has visited 400-450 places. It is not known who directed it and how direction was given/issued. A secretary of a department has no authority to use helicopters. How then was permission granted?” asked Harichandan. Pandian was then the 5T secretary.
Harichandan, who is also the works minister, said BJP govt will bring everything within the scope of investigation. “After probe is over, we will mull over punishment,” he told the media.
Sources revealed that construction of helipads were being overseen by the works department and work orders were being issued officially to different contractors. “But it is not known on whose direction the helipads were being constructed — district collectors or any other district-level officer,” said a govt source.
Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, a body of RTI activists, had staged demonstration on July 24 alleging misuse of copters and chartered flights by Pandian.
Responding to ministers, BJD leader Sambit Routray said, “They should (BJP and Congress leaders) be seeing if there has been development across the state. Why are they running after who rode what?”
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