DNA: Mumbai: Thursday, July 06, 2017.
The state
information commission (SIC) has directed the collector offices of the city and
the suburbs to put up details online of the permission given for excavation to
developers. The order states that such information be uploaded on the same day
the permission is granted.
Mahendra
Dharod, RTI applicant and resident of Dadar had sought information about the
permission for excavation given by the collectors office. Authorities take a
royalty on the land that is excavated for development purposes. The SIC order
that is to be implemented by July 15 this year was given by Ajit Kumar Jain,
state information commissioner.
Dharod, in
his application, had sought details of implementation of the RTI Act and
information on objection certificate and permissions granted to developers and
architects for excavation of a ground or plot for redevelopment, and file
notings besides other things.
Over a month
ago, Dharod received an RTI reply with information of an internal audit done in
the city collector's office which stated that over Rs 2 crore was yet to be
paid and that the audit of 2011-2014 was done in 2014-15. Internal audits are
to be done every year. The details showed that the audit was delayed by two
years and that in a number of cases records of receipts were not present.
"The mud
or brass or accessory mineral after excavations is of fine quality. In a number
of cases, development work is ongoing, but developers are either not taking
permission or are not paying the amount due to the government. I had sought information
on both to know the details," said Dharod.
"Excavation
is a major project happening because of redevelopment. I welcome the order of
such details to be put up online. If excavation is being undertaken, people
will know if it is lawful," said Dharod.