The Shillong Times: Guwahati: Sunday, March 11, 2018.
The Assam
Information Commission (AIC), in response to an RTI second appeal case, has
opined that the implementation of West Guwahti Water Supply Project, South
Central Guwahati Water Supply Project and Central Guwahati Water Supply Project
has been badly delayed.
It may be
mentioned that that while the West Guwahati Water Supply Project is being
implemented by Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the Guwahati
Jal Board, i.e. Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board is the
implementing authority in respect of South Central Guwahati Water Supply
Project and Central Guwahati Water Supply Project.
Taking in
view that the three Water Supply Projects for Guwahati are of vital public
interest, the Chief Information Commissioner, Assam HS Das through an order
issued on February 9 last, directed GMDA and Guwahati Jal Board, i.e. Guwahati
Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board to suo-moto disclose the
information relating to the present status of the implementation of the
projects and copies of agreements between the concerned contractors and the
implementing agencies, i.e. the public agencies within 30 days through their
respective websites. It may be mentioned that such pro-active disclosure is
mandatory and binding on all public authorities under Section 4 (1) (b) of the
RTI Act, 2005.
Thereafter,
the Commission has reviewed the matter of compliance of its order by GMDA and
Guwahati Jal Board today. It was found that GMDA has already uploaded the
sought for information in its website. Whereas, Guwahati Jal Board has prayed
for time to upload the relevant information in the website due to shortage of
manpower. Therefore, the Commission has granted Guwahati Jal Board time till
April 20, 2018 and will review the matter on the same day.
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