New Delhi, July 08: One of the pitfalls for late arrival of the NSG men to Mumbai when terror unleashed on November 26 last year was non availability of earmarked plane for them.
In this light and for other purposes, it was speculated that the home ministry is actively considering using the services of the private airlines for moving paramilitary forces to certain locations, under certain special circumstances.
These speculations were laid to rest by the Home Minister P Chidambaram when he ruled out that government is considering engaging private domestic airlines for moving paramilitary forces. He told this in reply to supplementary question during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.
Chidambaram, however, informed the upper house that Government is however actively considering, as a welfare measure, outsourcing of air courier services for Central Paramilitary Force personnel from Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern sectors.
“As far as outsourcing of air courier service is concerned, it will be operated in Jammu and Kashmir sector – between Jammu and Srinagar, and in the North Eastern sector – between Imphal, Agartala, Silchar and Kolkata,” he said.
Chidambaram said this move is necessitated because the operational commitments of Indian Air Force, they are only able to provide limited air support to paramilitary forces.
This matter is at the proposal stage in the ministry of home affairs. “Once approval of the competent authority is obtained, an open tender will be floated,” Chidambaram informed. “The decision to go through an open tender was taken after consulting Air India,” he added.
Only the commercial airlines registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will be eligible to bid for this tender, the upper house was informed.
–Agencies