In violation to RTI norms, required info missing from water board offices

Hindustan Times: Noida: Saturday, March 08, 2014.

Even as more than eight years have elapsed since the Right to Information Act came into force, the authorities concerned of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) here failed to divulge the names of public information officers (PIO) and other required information at their offices, which is mandatory under the RTI Rules.

The lack of information has been causing inconvenience to residents, who visit the PWSSB offices at Divisions 1 and 2 near Zila Parishad office, as they have to approach other officials to know about the officer dealing with RTI issues. Moreover, it is difficult to spot both the offices at Divisions 1 and 2 in the absence of any display board there.

However, the required information is available on the PWSSB website.

Karnail Singh, a resident who had visited the PWSSB office at division number 2, said he struggled a lot to know where to submit the RTI application. He needed some important information in a specified time.

He said even many employees did not have knowledge about how to file an RTI application.

On visiting these offices on Friday, this reporter found the required information missing.

Besides, the employees were also ignorant about the need of displaying the required information mandatory under the RTI Act at their respective offices. However, they claimed that the visitors usually get the required information under the RTI well in time.

RTI activist Arvind Sharma said: "I too had visited the PWSSB offices few days back and also wrote a letter to the official concerned so that the required information boards could be installed. However, no action was taken so far."

Daljeet Singh, superintending engineer-cum-first appellate authority, said: "We will install the required information boards soon. I joined the office four days ago, but nobody brought the matter to my notice.

"I want to inform the people that executive engineers have been deployed as PIOs, while sub-divisional officers are also working in capacity of assistant PIOs at the PWSSB offices at Divisions 1 and 2."