TV
The politics over former 5T secretary VK Pandian’s chopper rides intensified on Sunday with Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan assuring a detailed investigation into the matter.
Speaking to the media, the Law Minister said, “There should be clarity on who was bearing the helicopter expenses of Pandian. Secondly, wherever he visited, the then government ordered for construction of helipads using government funds. He had visited 400-450 places using helicopters. The allegations on the use of government funds to construct the helipads will be probed."
The Law Minister further stated that there would also be an investigation into how a department secretary was allowed to use the helicopter in the state.
“A probe will also be initiated on who and how permission was given for the use of helicopters by a department Secretary even as there is no such provision," Harichandan stated.
Amidst the ongoing controversy over Pandian's chopper rides, Congress also demanded an investigation into the then BJD government’s involvement in several multi-crore scams.
Instead of keeping the probe limited to Pandian’s chopper rides, the Congress urged the BJP to investigate BJD’s involvement in multiple scams including Rs 35000 crore rural drinking water supply project, medical expenses in treating patients during Covid 19 pandemic and Rs 20,000 crore in the procurement of items.
“Was there any audit of the funds utilised in the treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic? If not, then the BJP government should go for it. The then BJD government claimed that it had spent Rs 20,000 crore to procure various electronic equipment. But has it been valued or verified by a competent authority? There are multiple irregularities including in the Hockey. They should be properly investigated,” senior Congress leader Bijay Patnaik demanded.
On the other hand, BJD refuted the allegations and said Pandian visited various places using helicopters to address public grievances.
“Pandian visited different places using helicopters to hear public grievances. The matter should not be politicised. However, with BJP coming to power, the PC practices have started at the block level,” BJD leader Sambit Routray said.
Apart from Pandian’s expensive chopper rides, a huge amount of expenditure has also been done for the construction of helipads.
It has been revealed through an RTI query that the Works Department has spent around Rs 75 lakh for the construction of as many as 18 helipads in three constituencies of Cuttack district. Around Rs 3-4 lakh has been spent per each helipad. If Rs 75 lakh has been spent for the construction of helipads in only three constituencies, the amount must be astounding for 147 Assembly constituencies across Odisha. It has been learnt that Pandian was riding choppers even while visiting Khordha and Pipili.
According to the former administrators, a Secretary can’t use a chopper alone.
“It is not as per the provision of law. The Finance Department has also not given any special order for it. The Chief Minister can’t order in this manner. When one submits a file, the Chief Minister approves,” said former Chief Secretary Sahadev Sahoo.
