Chandigarh, January 2
The King Air (C-90) aircraft owned by the Punjab government is ready to resume flight. It was grounded some years ago due to crucial repairs. However, after repair, now it has been cleared for flying by the director-general , Civil Aviation.
Sources said the Punjab government had invited applications from pilots having experience of flying aircraft. Two pilots will be recruited, it is learnt. In fact, the government will need three pilots, one as reliever. As the pilots are not easily available, it is a tough job for the authorities concerned and will have to pay salary from Rs 2 to 3 lakh per month to experienced pilots. Obviously, they will have to be given a special package as otherwise no state government employee normally is given salary more than that of the chief secretary.
The King Air aircraft is considered to be one of the best for short and medium-length trips. Carrying 2,000 pounds, it can fly at 280 miles per hour at a height of 25,000 feet. In other words, it has the capacity to fly eight persons, including two pilots, and can reach Mumbai from Chandigarh in three hours.
For some years, Chief Ministers have become frequent users of flying machines in most of the states. And not to be left behind, the ministers
have become fond of using luxury cars with a price tag in the range of Rs 15 lakh. Same is true in case of chief parliamentary secretaries, who have been provided with luxury cars priced at Rs 7-8 lakh.
Bureaucrats also have an eye for luxury cars now. A proposal is said to be in the pipeline to buy better looking cars for them. Sources said there was a proposal to provide senior officers with cars with price tag up to Rs 10 lakh, whereas their juniors and department heads are likely to be provided with cars or other vehicles worth up to Rs 7 lakh.
The previous Congress government had bought for a former chief secretary, when he was in service, a car that was pricewise even costlier than luxury cars used by ministers. Ministers and MLAs in that government used to say it proves the point bureaucracy has supremacy over elected representatives.
For the Chief Minister’s cavalcade of vehicles, the government has a plan to spend Rs 4 crore. As many as eight vehicles will be added to the CM’s cavalcade soon. Each of these vehicles after bullet and blast proofing will cost Rs 50 lakh. These vehicles were being added to the cavalcade on the recommendation of Punjab Police authorities, which wanted such vehicles were required to provide better security cover to the CM.
Already, Haryana Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister have a cavalcade of such vehicles. The frequent argument given to buy luxury cars is that these are economical as far as running and repair cost is concerned compared to the ambassador cars which remained symbol of state authority for several decades.
Though most of the states, including Punjab, have not adequate number of teachers to impart education in schools and doctors to look after the health of people in civil hospitals and dispensaries, as far as spending on ruling politicians and administrators is concerned, money is being spent without caring for the state treasury.
