:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the helicopters being used by ONGC are not fulfilling the safety measures as prescribed by the authorities; and
(b) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government to implement the safety measures for the helicopters?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINITSTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN)
(a) & (b) : Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has informed that it is chartering helicopters wherein the operators have to fulfil the conditions as laid down by the concerned statutory and Regulatory Authorities. After the unfortunate accident on 11.8.2003 of a helicopter chartered by ONGC from MESCO Airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is conducting a statutory inquiry to look into the cause of this accident. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas have also set up a three member Independent Inquiry Committee to look into inter alia, the aspects of Safety and Security of lives in offshore operations, especially air logistics and inspection mechanism; hiring of helicopters, especially MI-172 helicopters, including the circumstances under which the ill-fated helicopter was hired etc. An Interim Report has been received from the Committee ,and the final report is awaited.