Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN, Feb 16, 2011,
RAJKOT: Rayabhai Zapadiya, 42, a resident of Veraval village in Jasdan taluka of Rajkot district, has been fighting a long and lonely battle against corrupt government officials. Finally, after two-and-a-half years, he has been successful in bringing the truth to the light with the help of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Zapadiya suspected corruption in laying pipeline in the village, which was the only hope to solve the village's drinking water problem. "We had no water since long and had urged the government to take necessary steps to solve it," said Zapadiya.
"Finally, the government decided to lay the pipeline but due to corrupt practices, the pipeline was not laid properly as per government regulations. I discovered this and started raising questions in the panchayat, but I did not get proper answers. It was then, in June 2008, that I took the RTI route to get the answers," said Zapadiya.
Zapadiya contended that there were problems in laying the pipeline, resulting in water supply not reaching people. When his RTI application reached the Gujarat Information Commission, it ordered the measurement of the pipeline in the presence of the complainant and government officials concerned.
During the measurement, it was found that the length of the pipeline is 1,450 metres, width 0.60 m, while the depth is between 0.23 and 0.55 m. However, the information furnished to the complainant in April 2010 put the length of pipeline at 2,380 m, width 0.60 m (the same found in the measurement taken in the presence of the complainant) and depth 0.90 m.
Zapadiya's contentions were proved by the physical measurements.
"During the past two-and-a-half years, I was threatened by several people. They even tried to bribe me, but I refused. I am a small farmer and I just want the problem of drinking water be solved immediately. I can survive by working in farms as a daily wager," said Zapadiya.
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