Thiruvananthapuram: The Finance Department has approved an additional Rs 50 lakhs to settle overdue rents for the helicopter used by the Chief Minister. The government owes Rs 80 lakhs monthly for the helicopter, and arrears from October 20 to November 19 are now pending.
The leasing contract was formalized between the company and the Kerala Police. Chipsan Aviation, the leasing company, has sent a letter to the Chief of Police, demanding payment after two months of unpaid rent. The letter forwarded to the Home Department last month, was eventually sent to the Finance Department under the Chief Minister’s special instructions. Despite the standard requirement for special permission to sanction bills exceeding Rs 1 lakh, the Finance Department made concessions, allowing the government to allocate additional funds for the helicopter rent.
The state government’s three-year lease contract with Delhi-based Chipsan Aviation comes at a monthly cost of Rs 80 lakhs, covering 20 hours of usage. However, for every additional hour beyond this limit, the government must shell out an extra Rs 90,000, further adding to the financial burden on the state.
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