13 months on, RTI activist gets no information on Sonegaon lake

Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, June 10, 2013.

What is the big secret about Sonegaon lake that government officials are trying to protect? That is the question that must be haunting RTI activist TH Naidu. For around 13 months, Naidu has been made to make rounds of department after department for information about one of the city's historic lakes.

Talking about his 13-month long ongoing struggle, Naidu told TOI that no government department was ready to give detailed information unless appeals were made against them. "I submitted an application under RTI act with the collector office seeking information about Sonegaon lake's auction and other related issues on May 8, 2012. The then manager of collector and court of wards office R Patharwe took two months (July 2, 2012) to reply that the court of wards does not come under the RTI ambit. Many submitted applications seeking information from court of wards and collector office before me and got the same reply," he said.

Naidu filed an appeal against the reply on July 9, 2012. "The first appellate authority and deputy collector Nishikant Sukhe passed an order after nine months on April 2, 2013. I received the copy on April 17, 2013. Only one hearing was conducted on January 15, 2013 in these nine months. Sukhe gave a historical order directing the manager, collector and court of wards office, to provide information, ruling that it comes under the RTI Act's purview. But the information was again delayed. Manager, collector and court of wards office sent a letter dated May 23 stating that the information could not be provided as it had been barred by the third party Raje Raghujirao Bhonsale and Raje Mudhojirao Bhonsale. Now, I am forced to go for second appeal," he said.

Naidu said the officials are blatantly violating RTI Act. "Inordinate delay is the one issue and denying information citing one or other reason is another issue. The information had nothing to do with the third party as Sonegaon lake was auctioned by the collector and court of wards office on June 21, 1974. The persons who are the owners of the lakes since 1974 till date are different. Besides, the third party clause given in the RTI act does not arise in this matter," he said.

A senior official from the collector office said it was mandatory to seek the permission from the third party as land under court of wards belongs to the Bhonsale family. "The applicant has also right to appeal again with the first appellate officer or second appellate officer if he is not satisfied with the reply," he said.