March 22, 2022
Aparupa Poddar’s speech on the Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Civil Aviation for 2022-23
Thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak on the Demand for Grants of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
सर, मैंअपनी बाि रखनेसेपहलेकुछ ऑब्जवेशंस जो मैंनेकी हैं, उसेरखना चाह ंगी। जब मैंनेइस मंत्रालय केबजट की िरफ ध्यान तदया िो मुझेयह लगा तक क्या असल मेंतसतवल एतवएशन नामक कोई तमतनथरी हैया नहीं, क्योंतक वर्ा2021-22 मेंइस मंत्रालय को 3,224 करोड़ रुपये तमले, तजसमेंसे2,268 करोड़ रुपयेएयरइंतिया असटे्स होतल्िंगतलतमटेि को तदयागया। ररवाइज्ि एथटीमेट 2021-22 मेंयह बढ़ कर 72,652 करोड़ रुपयेहो गया और इसका मख्ुय कारण हैतक 4,500 करोड़ रुपयेएयर इंतिया को लोन मेंतदए गए और 62,000 करोड़ रुपयेइतक्वटी इन्फ्यूजन इन एयर इंतिया असेट्स होतल्िंग तलतमटेि को तदया गया। अगरहम बजट 2022-23 कीबाि करेंिो10,667 करोड़ रुपयेमंत्रालय को तदएगए, तजसमें से9,259.91 करोड़ रुपयेतफरएयरइंतिया असेट्स होतल्िंगतलतमटेि को तदयागया।इसका मिलब तक इस मंत्रालय को 85 प्रतिशि तदया गया, जो बजट तसफा एयर इंतिया के तलए ही एलॉट तकया
गया। क्या यह …(कायावाही-वत्तृ ान्ि मेंसतम्मतलि नहीं तकयागया।) सरकार इस एयर इंतिया कोग्रेट इंतियन सेल मेंबेचनेपर िलुी हुई थी? हम इस प्राइवेटाइजेशन का घोर तवरोध करिेहैं। There have been several demands on the taxation front by the aviation
industry, which include introduction of measures targeted by augmenting the liquidity of airlines and airport operators, such as lowering of taxes on air turbine fuel and reduction of 18 per cent minimum alternate tax, and an increase in the threshold of the amount that can be spent by a passenger in duty-free shops. Expenditure on air turbine fuel accounts for approximately 25 to 40 per cent of the operational costs of the airlines, and therefore, a reduction or waiver of taxes is desirable. In order to equip the stakeholders with adequate working capital, the
Government could also consider announcing a reduction in the rate of interest on working capital lines being provided to airlines and airport operators or make necessary adjustments in the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme to ensure ready availability of working capital without jeopardising the exposures of the lending institutions.Aero sport is one of the adventure sports which has gained popularity among the youth worldwide and in India as well. India with its breath-taking views of the mountains, sea beaches and the countryside, has a great potential for aero sport. It can act as a boost for adventure tourism in the country. But the Ministry has made a mere token allocation of Rs.1 crore for the development of aero sports. I would like to know from the Minister why has there been a lack of interest shown by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this promising field. Currently, cancellation charges are not regulated by the Government which has resulted in no uniformity in cancellation charges by different airlines, defying the logic that flights of different airlines on a particular sector have the same starting and destination points, and where the duration of the flight is also the same. I would request the Minister that there should be uniform cancellation charges across all airlines Lastly, I demand for an inquiry by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on air turbulence encountered by plane carrying our hon. Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee while returning from Varanasi. Had the route taken by the plane in which the Chief Minister returned to the city from Varanasi had been granted prior permission? Our Chief Minister got some back injury due to this turbulence and landing. Hence, I would request the Government that there should be a high-levelprobe by the DGCA covering all aspects from the aviation point of view. With these words, I conclude.
