GHMC withholds info on RTI queries
After filing scores of RTI applications, an activist from the Old City, who failed to receive any of the information from GHMC even after 15 months, continues to strive and run from pillar to post for getting details. All that he received was a clear ‘non-availability’ of information, in spite of his gruelling efforts.
Yakutpura: After filing scores of RTI applications, an activist from the Old City, who failed to receive any of the information from GHMC even after 15 months, continues to strive and run from pillar to post for getting details. All that he received was a clear 'non-availability' of information, in spite of his gruelling efforts.
Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, Abdul Rahman, a social activist from Yakutpura, said that his 25 RTI applications have been pending with the GHMC officials. Amongst them, he even took up the case of 8 RTI applications to the Appellant Authority but to no avail. Apart from PIO (Public Information Officer) and Appellant Authority, he also sought information through five applications from the Zonal Commissioner and, interestingly, even the zonal office could not provide the details even after five months.
He said that he also approached the RTI Commissioner over the matter three months ago, but nothing happened. "Why the RTI queries were not being answered. Is there any scam in the projects under the Charminar zone? In every zone, citizens were receiving information but why there is no reply from Charminar Zone," he wondered.
To make his task more arduous, when Rahman visited the GHMC office to enquire about the status of his applications, one of the officials from engineering wing questioned why he wanted the information and what he intended to do with the information after he gets it.
After waiting for hours, he got a reply that there was 'no information available' or the officer, who is designated to release information, was not available. "RTI is like a bombshell for them, if the information is revealed, they fear losing their jobs owing to the scams in which are involved," he added. He feels that the reason behind the official apathy could be reason to suspect something fishy was going on.
It may be mentioned here that the activist was earlier assaulted by GHMC workers, which made some headlines locally. Following a complaint lodged against 28 workers (Sanitary Field Assistants) under GHMC (South Zone), the activist was allegedly physically assaulted by those whose names were enlisted for indulging in corruption.
People's Union for Civil Liberties-Telangana State (PUCL-TS) took up the matter with the DGP, alleging that Abdul Rahman was physically assaulted and also threatened. He faced the wrath after he had filed a complaint before the Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Department against the SFA at Rein Bazar area of Old City on how they were pocketing the public money in the name of sweeping and cleaning.
