Tuesday, March 14 2006 14:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government today (Mar 14 2006) told the Rajya Sabha that it has not received any formal proposal for merger of Sahara Airlines with Jet Airways, leading to protests by Left members who asked the Minister to clarify on the matter.

An agitated Dipankar Mukherjee (CPI-M) said if the Chairman of Indian Airlines has sought allocation of the infrastructural support, including land of Sahara for the state-owned airlines following reports of Jet Airways-Sahara merger, how was the government ignorant about it.

Reacting to member's observation, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the government had not received any formal proposal for the merger of the two airlines.

"We are not insensitive. We have read it in media. There is a possibility of such a situation. Therefore, the government will, in the best of international practice, try to come out with guidelines," Patel said when asked whether land and other support will be transferred to Indian Airlines in the event of merger.

Raising the issue, Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M) asked Patel whether land and infrastructural support of Sahara Airlines would be transferred to the Indian Airlines as a result of former's merger since these facilities are not automatically transferred to the new merged airlines.

In reply to the main question, the Minister said corporate houses have acquired business jet and turboprop planes for private use and these are on the increase due to rising business and tourism needs.