New Delhi: Reflecting concerns of members, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said in the Lok Sabha he was not happy with implementation of Air India’s turnaround plan, but is injecting Rs 2,000 crore to keep the national carrier afloat to check any spurt in fares.
“As far as AI is concerned there is a turnaround plan. I am not happy with the way the plan has been implemented in the past. There has been several setbacks. But what do we do with AI? If I do not provide this Rs 2,000 crore there will be greater difficulty,” he said winding up a discussion on the supplementary demands for grants.
Of the additional expenditure Rs 32,120 crore under the first batch of supplementary, Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for equity infusion in Air India as part of the turnaround plan and restructuring package.
“If AI is not kept afloat, what will happen is airfares will go up, other airline companies will simply push up their air fares because so many seats will not be available. Which is why we are providing Rs 2,000 crore to AI,” Chidambaram said.
The Minister said there were some indications of an uptick in Air India in the last quarter and hoped that AI employees and management will also assist in turning it around.
The national carrier’s losses have been mounting from Rs 5,548.26 crore in 2008-09, Rs 5,552.44 crore in 2009-10, Rs 6,865.17 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 7,853 crore in 2011-12.
“There are airlines in the country and around the world running in profit and there is no reason why AI should not be turned around,” Chidambaram said.
His response came after members from parties like BJD, Trinamool Congress questioned the government’s move to infuse more funds when there was no proper plan for the turnaround of the national carrier.
Saugata Roy (TMC) attacked the government for not heeding to its plea for a moratorium on interest payment on loans taken by West Bengal.
He said in the absence of moratorium, the West Bengal government was unable to undertake development projects for want of funds.
Roy criticised the economic policies of the government and particularly targetted FDI in retail and cutting of subsidies.
He was critical of the government’s move to pay Rs 28,500 crore to oil marketing companies to meet under-recoveries.
Roy attacked the government for failing to turn around Air India as he objected to the demand for approval of Rs 2,000 crore in the supplementary demand for grants.
Ramchandra Dome (CPI-M) also attacked the government’s economic policies which had taken the country to the brink of failure.
He expressed concern over unprecedented price rise and corruption saying the natural resources of the country were being looted.
Dome also attacked the policy of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail saying it would open the country to the economy of failed states like the US.
Baijayant Panda (BJD) expressed concern over high inflation which was knocking at the doors of double digit.
He criticised the government’s continued infusion of funds in Air India which he described as a bottomless pit.
Panda said the government had already given Rs 7,200 crore to Air India, including Rs 4,000 crore in this year’s budget.
He wondered why Air India was unable to earn profit when some private airlines were doing so.
Panda also attacked the government policies in governing the petroleum sector.
Lal Singh (Cong) demanded that the government should work out a mechanism to ensure that the money sanctioned was properly spend on various welfare schemes.
Prabodh Panda (CPI) expressed concern over rising inflation, slowing economy and deteriorating employment situation.
Arjun Roy (JD-U) expressed concern over the increasing fiscal deficit, high inflation and declining economic growth.
Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) attacked the government on curtailing subsidies on cooking gas by limiting LPG cylinders to six per connection. He wanted the government to list out steps taken to improve functioning of Air India.
