Ex CM Rawat condemns cancellation of Heli service contract

Former chief minister Harish Rawat termed as unfortunate, the decision of the state government to terminate a contract with a helicopter service enterprise in the state. He said that the previous state government had worked on it with full transparency under inter-state connectivity plan.

Interacting with mediaperson before quitting government accommodation Rawat said that the government’s decision to cancel the contract will deprive travelers of helicopter service at Gauchar, Chinyalisaud and other parts of the state while also depriving the state of Rs 18 crore revenue. Opining that the state government had not done well by cancelling the contract signed with the helicopter service enterprise by the previous government, he said that the state government should reconsider its decision and also make alternate arrangement. Rawat also criticised the state government’s decisions regarding the sale of liquor in Uttarakhand, opining that it was “a ditch dug by the Bharatiya Janata Party”. Referring to the state government changing the status of stretches of highways to enable operation of licensed liquor outlets, the previous chief minister questioned who would be responsible for maintaining such stretches of the road. Regarding mining, Rawat said that the previous government had increased revenue from it from Rs 60 crore to earn a profit of about Rs 350 crore for the state which was a major achievement of that government. While seeking answers from the state government on these issues, Rawat also said that the Congress will fully support any decision the government takes in the interests of Uttarakhand.