Assam Tribune; Guwahati, Monday, September 27, 2010;
It is strange or bizarre, depending on the perspective taken. The response to a Right to Information application has bewildered the applicant, and shown how the RTI Act is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit in Assam.
A resident of Guwahati who had filed the RTI applicantion told The Assam Tribune that it was a highly unexpected reply that he had after he filed the application on the city’s traffic situation on August 5.
In his application, Chiranjeeb Kakoty, a resident of Kasturba Nagar, had asked “whether there was any no tolerance zone for no parking and double parking in Guwahati city…and if so the areas”.
The reply from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police stated that no such No Tolerance Zone has been earmarked in the city. It stated, “No communication regarding creation of No Tolerance Zone has been received by this office so far from any authority”.
The reply to the second query, “whether the city traffic police is responsible to ensure that the city buses use only designated bus stoppages,” elicited an answer equally baffling.
It was said that city bus stops were yet to be notified. “This office has not received any notification for designated city bus stops so far”, the office stated.
In response to another question about the fixed stoppages for trekkers, the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police stated that no fixed stops have been designated for trekkers in Guwahati city. The response stated, “No fixed stops have yet been earmarked for trekkers in Guwahati city by the transport authorities as these vehicles are given permit under provision of contract carriage and share taxi.”
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