Gliders parked at the Sona Sobran Rajkiya Flying Academy in Dumka

Ranchi, Jan. 16: Dumka’s much-hyped flight plan has gone awry, courtesy a laggard state government.

It was with much fanfare that then chief minister (now caretaker) Shibu Soren had inaugurated a glider school — Sona Sobran Rajkiya Flying Academy, named after his late parents — in the district on December 10.

One month down the line, the institute is just a ghost of its past self, with only a fleet of gliders, some of them defunct, standing sentinel on the deserted campus. And the 23 youths, who had taken admission for a one-year gliding course — supposed to commence from the very day the academy opened, are wishing they hadn’t dreamt so big.

The youths, belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, and other backward classes (OBCs) had bagged the chance of becoming glider pilots following an extensive round of interview conducted by a committee headed by deputy commissioner Prashant Kumar.

Out of the 23, nine, including two girls, belong to the primitive Paharia tribe; 10 others are from the ST while two are from the SC category. The remaining aspirants are from the general category. Most of these youths have only the basic qualification that was demanded — intermediate (plus two) science. While SC/ST candidates had to shell out Rs 22,000 each as admission fee, the rate was Rs 48,000 for general category candidates. The course was to be offered free to aspirants from primitive tribes. Now, with no clue when the academy classes might begin, they are left in the lurch.

Talking to The Telegraph, Kumar, who was chairperson of the selection committee, said since his role was restricted till admission, he had no idea why the classes had not begun. “It is up to the civil aviation department to take the initiative,” he added.

Officials in the civil aviation department blamed the delay on the unstable political situation in the state.

However, insiders said that two pilots associated with the department — chief captain Ajay Kumar Shrivastava and senior pilot Animesh Mukherjee — were facing an inquiry by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a botched flood rescue operation case. Their licences have been suspended and this is the main reason behind the starting of the course.

The academy’s flight instructor Captain S.P. Sinha refused to comment. Some officials, however, said that the government might start the course things from January 26.