Karnataka MLA buys a chopper

The deplorable condition of roads inbackward areas of Bellary district in Karnataka hasprompted a legislator representing the region to buy achopper.

Thirty two-year-old Anil Lad, a first time MLA fromthe BJP, has become the youngest owner of a Bellhelicopter in India. Claiming that it will help himattend to the problems of people in his constituencyof Kudligi in Bellary, Anil Lad went ahead andpurchased a single-engine Bell 407 helicopter for awhopping Rs 115 million.

Lad told reporters that his house was located 70 kmsaway from his constituency. In view of the poorcondition of roads in the backward district, Ladclaimed that it takes him at least three hours toreach his constituency. “The chopper will be a bighelp in attending to the problems of my voters”, Ladsaid.

The six-seater is the first Bell 407 to be assembledat Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unit inBangalore. The aircraft was delivered to Lad lastweek. HAL officials said there are a total of 19 Bell407s in India and Lad is the youngest owner of themall. Incidentally, Lad is the first MLA in Karnatakato own a chopper.

Lad, who runs a flourishing mining business, hasconstructed helipads near his house, at his farmhouseand at his mine. He has also employed a pilot bypaying him Rs 150,000 a month to fly him around.

Lad’s acquisition of a chopper comes at a time whenChief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is facing the musicfrom the leaders of the Opposition parties inKarnataka for hopping onto a helicopter at the drop ofa hat and burdening the public exchequer in theprocess.