The BSF's Mi-17 IV chopper fleet not only flies sorties to help anti-naxal operations, but are also used for transporting paramilitary forces.
The panel has also asked the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to plug "operational constraints" which are leading to this problem and ensure a solution so that the BSF is able to operate its fleet in full strength.
"The committee is constrained to note that helicopters are not functional due to scarcity of spares. Such a situation should not have been allowed," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs noted in its recent report tabled in Parliament.
"The committee takes serious view of the fact that despite Memorandum of Understanding signed between MHA and MoD, the Air Force is not able to extend the required support in terms of pilots, technical manpower, spares backup and repair facilities to the MHA due to their own operational constraints.
"When MoU was signed, the MoD should honour this without fail. The MoD should plug these operational constraints," the panel said when it was briefed that out of the six MI-17 IV BSF military helicopters, two were grounded for want of service.
While the BSF flies these choppers under military registration, it has also contracted Pawan Hans and other helicopter service operators to cater to more than 70 battalions of central forces deployed for anti-naxal duties and for other logistical sorties.
"Currently two Mi-17 IV helicopters out of a fleet of six with MHA, are in unservicable condition, due to non- availability of the critical components, spares, including aero engines and main rotor blades," the Home Ministry said in its reply to the House panel. (More)