Odisha police seeks DGCA clarification on Panda's chopper

Odisha police Saturday sought clarification from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on low level flying over eco-sensitive Chilika lake allegedly by former MP Baijayant Panda.

The decision to seek more clarification on the issue was taken a day after the DGCA dismissed charges levelled against Panda that he had flown a helicopter dangerously low over Chilika Lake in September.

We have got the DGCA report on the landing of helicopter, but we will seek further clarification regarding the altitude of flying over Chilika lake," Puri superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi told reporters here.

The state police had last month sealed the Panda family-owned IMFA hanger with three choppers following allegations that a helicopter flew at low level over the lagoon affecting the eco-system.

"Other than the helicopter in question, we will release rest of the two helicopters in the hangar, Sarangi said.

The DGCA in a letter to the director of Biju Patnaik International Airport here had said, Based on fact and evidence, it could not be established that the helicopter has flown dangerously below the assigned altitude or have landed at Chilika Lake on September 15, 2018.

The DGCA investigation also said that no violation of its rules and regulations were observed.