Information was sought regarding storm water drainage system laid by MCD - CIC: matter to be brought to the notice of Commissioner, MCD regarding RTI applications being tossed around in various departments which calls for remedial measures
3 Aug, 2014Information sought:
The Appellant had sought information regarding storm water drainage system as has been laid/provided by MCD in East Delhi.
Relevant facts emerging during hearing:
Both the parties are present. The appellant filed an RTI application on 26.07.2012 seeking information regarding storm water drainage system as has been laid/provided by MCD in East Delhi. Appellant stated that, at present the MCD is connecting the storm water with the sewage which was wrong and it had created a lot of problems earlier. In fact, the Jal Board has also given notice to the MCD for regulating the storm water drainage system. The appellant further stated that he did not receive any reply on his RTI application and the FAA, vide order dated 26.3.13, merely returned the application to another unit. So far the matter is being shunted from one unit to the other. Appellant also stated that, he needs information since it is a matter of public interest and he is doing a study on the storm water and the policy in Delhi. EE, EMS said that the EE, Maintenance is supposed to take care of the storm water drainage system.
Decision:
The Commission finds that, RTI application was firstly transferred on 31.01.2013 to PIO, SDMC HQ Civic Centre, New Delhi by PIO/HQ, EDMC. Secondly, on 26.02.2013 it was transferred to PIO, EE, Shahdara, North and PIO, EE, Shahdara, South, Delhi. The first appeal was transferred on 22.03.2013 to Suptd. Engineer I & II, Shahdara, North Zone, Delhi. On 26.03.2013 the FAA transferred it to the concerned PIO for necessary action. The CPIO, EMS, Shahdara, North Zone transferred the RTI application to PIO, Town Planning/ SDMC on 05.04.2013 for providing the information. No information has been provided till date. From the CPIO’s reply and FAA order it is not very clear as to which Department the information pertained. At the time of hearing EE, EMS stated that EE/M is supposed to take care of the storm water drainage system. The Commission remands the matter back to FAA for taking necessary steps for providing information to the appellant as sought in his RTI application dated 26.08.2012, within four weeks of receipt of this order, under intimation to the Commission. The matter should also be brought to the notice of Commissioner, MCD regarding RTI applications being tossed around in various departments without any reply being provided to the appellant and they are made to run from pillar-to-post. Remedial measures are called for, for putting in streamlined procedures. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
(Yashovardhan Azad)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri D.N. Srivastava v. East Delhi Municipal Corp., Delhi in F.No.CIC/DS/A/2013/000775-YA