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No RTI query, but activists get civic info
Inspect BMC Files On Desilting By Making Use Of A Section In The Act .......Viju B I TNN Mumbai: Did you know that you can get information from a government office even without filing a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act? A group of city-based activists have successfully used a little known section in the Act to inspect and procure information from the BMC’s stormwater department without filing an RTI query.
Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005, says that “it shall be the constant endeavour of the public authority to provide as much information suo motu to the public’’.
“We decided to test this section of the act so that in future, citizens can use this Act effectively without actually filing an RTI application,’’ said RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi who coordinated the inspection of files.
For this purpose, a group of six activists reached the stormwater department at Byculla on Wednesday afternoon and sought information pertaining to the desilting work of all nullahs in the city.
“We thought this is one of the most important issues, especially since monsoons will begin next month and to avoid flooding in the city, the desilting has to be done properly,’’ said activist Krishnaraj Rao.
The inspection of files showed that 66% of the desilting work of major and minor nullahs in the city was completed till May 10. In the western suburbs, 51.57% of the work was completed, while in the eastern suburbs, 61% of the work was completed.
“We have completed almost 95% of the projected target of desliting work. While our overall projected target was 65%, we have managed to complete 58% till May 10,’’ a senior BMC official said.
On inspecting other files, like the special condition for tender contract, the group found out that silt must be transported within 48 hours to the specified dumping ground.
“However, in case of main roads, the silt should be transported by deploying vehicles immediately. The vehicle should be water-tight and the wet silt should not be allowed to drip out on the road during transportation,’’ the files stated.
The tender contract also said that the stacked desilted material should be sprayed with deodorants, failing which Rs 100 per day per spot will be imposed on the tender holder.
“The tender holder should also maintain the canals and see that no flooding occurs during the monsoon in the nullahs,’’ said Bhaskar Prabhu, one of the members of the group.
Gandhi said though the stormwater department did not provide all the information sought by the group, it has promised to let them inspect other files soon. “We feel that this is a good beginning. The citizens should now come forward and use this section at their respective ward levels and get their grievances solved. This will increase accountability among the bureaucracy and files will move faster,’’ Gandhi said.
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| Also see : Anti-Corruption, Government Acts(By Topic), Government Schemes |
