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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched...

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched from around the sprawling parking lot, the helicopter appeared to drop speed in its flight, flew over some overhead high-tension electric cables, and descended gingerly into the parking lot - raising a thick dust-storm in which it disappeared for seconds - before touching the ground.   Moments later, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Bhujbal and others stepped out of the chopper, looked around in the unfamiliar territory before several vehicles and police teams rushed there. Minutes before there was chaos and confusion with some locals shouting warnings at the ‘wrong landing’.   Eyewitnesses said that the chopper’s powerful rotors created a thick dust storm and sparked alarm among the people in the vicinity, and many scrambled to the spot to check what exactly was going on in the parking lot.   Later, the Pune Police said that a designated helipad was available for the chopper landing but were at a loss to explain how the pilot missed it and veered off quite a distance away in the vehicle parking space. Subsequently, they asked the pilot to fly it to the correct landing spot.   Shaken and angry local NCP leaders questioned how a pilot flying a VIP on an official trip could mistake a parking lot for a helipad when the weather and visibility was clear. They demanded to know whether the helipad was improperly marked or it was a question of communication or sheer negligence.   The Pune Police indicated that they would report the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which may take action against the errant pilot and the helicopter company.   “There was no accident. We all emerged safely. The helicopter pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot because the helipad was not visible. All of us are fine and there is nothing to worry,” said Bhujbal, before he was whisked off by his security team.   “There are many faults in numerous airplanes and helicopters, including maintenance issues and other problems. That's why I keep saying consistently that VIPs must exercise caution while flying. Fortunately, an accident was averted today, but that doesn't mean the authorities should be negligent. We expect the government to take urgent precautions.” Rohit R. Pawar, MLA, NCP (SP)

Cabinet sub-committee for funds allocation

Mumbai: After the formation of 'Maha InvIT', a trust to attract investment in the mega infrastructure projects, a cabinet sub-committee has been formed to ensure hassle-free funds allocation to MLAs and thereby keep the power equations within Mahayuti balanced.


The cabinet sub-committee is expected to decide upon funds to be allocated to MLAs for carrying out works in their respective constituencies like the repairing of roads, street lighting and gardens on public places.


Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be heading the committee, with industries minister Uday Samant, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, rural development and water supply minister Jaukumar Gore, school education minister Dadaji Bhuse and sports and youth welfare minister Sanjay Bansod

are the members of the committee.


During MVA tenure the Shiv Sena MLAs were particularly upset with Ajit Pawar because they were never allocated enough funds even as their counterparts in NCP always got whatever they needed. The condition was better even when the NCP joined Mahayuti three years ago as Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde was heading the government back then. However, after the change of guards last December the Shiv Sena camp had been in utter disease. The sub-committee is formed in order to do away with the disease, said a senior official.


According to him, the decision means equanimous distribution of power. This decision would do away with any apprehensions anybody in power might have while assuring them justice in crucial issues like funds allocation for local works.


Curtailing powers

The decision to form Maha InvIT was being seen as infringement into the rights of the ministers handling departments like the PWD, MSRDC and urban development. It was being interpreted that the decision would adversely affect prospects of DCM Eknath Shinde. However, officials from his office perceive this as yet another opportunity to build conduits to take the benefits of power to loyal party workers.


New trust or an organization like this would mean appointment of more men to run it. When one is working as a government department there are several reatrictions to that need to be tackled. However, whenever the same work is allocated to a state owned corporation or an SPV or any similar body, the parameters change and those in charge of it get more powers to spend funds at their will. Hence, formation of Maha InvIT means a favour to Shinde, the officer explained.


However, a senior official said that decision would mean stricter financial management and would in turn mean less opportunity for corruption or in other words spend money at will. Financial discipline will have to be maintained if one has to attract more and bigger investors, the officer said stating that the decision to form Maha InvIT will mean better discipline.


"The CM did not leave any opportunity to show how he and his departments performed well. This report card brings the ‘cold war’ among the three ruling parties to the forefront, and also indicates that Fadnavis holds the upper hand."

Harshwardhan Sapkal, Chief, Maharashtra Congress

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