Mumbai: The proposal of Ajit Singh, Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India to constitute a new Aircraft Acquisition Committee headed by him to recommend the import of aircraft, has been put on hold by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), as per a report by The Indian Express. The Ministry already has such a committee headed by an additional secretary, who is the final authority to recommend as well as approve aircraft procurement.
In a communication sent on October 30, 2012 the PMO directed the Civil Aviation Ministry to put the move, which would have given Singh discretionary powers by making him the final sanctioning authority — “in abeyance”. The PMO directed that status quo be maintained until “a final view is taken in the matter”. A two-page note sent along with the communication suggested that having such a committee would “delay” the process and promote “licence raj”.
“Somebody had complained to the PMO, that is why they wrote to us. Where is the question of licence raj, delaying proposals? I clear it much faster, within two to four days,” Singh said.
29/11/12 TravelBizmonitor
