Secunderabad Cantonment Board ducks RTI

Secunderabad: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has once again faulted on passing information under the Right to Information Act. In a reply to a petition filed by N Venkata Ramana of Malani Enclave near Trimulgherry on the CPIO of SCB, the board replied that the information sought is voluminous and as the assistant engineer has to look after other duties and would affect administration, hence the information sought attracts section 7 (9) of RTI Act, 2005. Venkata Ramana said that the SCB is ducking questions and citing that the section is not appropriate as it is bound to pass information.

It may be noted that in 2016, one C J Karira, an RTI activist had sent four applications to SCB and did not receive a reply that led to the Central Information Commission (CIC) hauling up SCB for mismanagement of RTI affairs in the organization. Raghuveer, a social activist and resident of West Marredpally said, “The SCB is notorious for not replying to RTI applications. It is nothing short of mockery of the RTI Act.” In all, the RTI applicant asked for 21 points pertaining to nala construction from Mahatma Dandhi Community Hall until Trimulgherry Lake, work estimates, drawing plan, fee for sanctioning layouts, burning plastic and garbage, construction of park in Malani Enclave among others.

Citizens have been criticising the attitude of SCB officials on several matters. Revathy, a resident of Sikh Village said, “The SCB is flouting all norms, plastic is burnt in the open air even as officials speak about Swatchh Bharat and also hold rallies. The shifting of the dumpyard at the community hall at Trimulgherry too is pending.”