Times of India: Trichy: Sunday, 20 September 2020.
The state highways department has landed in controversy after denying information to a query made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 seeking details on an ongoing road widening project. According to RTI activist, P Aiyarappan, who sought the details, the sub-section cited by the department for denying the information was irrelevant to the road project and does not exist under the Act.
The department in April had launched the Karur road widening work between Kudamurutti bridge and Thindukkarai at a cost of Rs 55 crore. The road was supposed to be widened from 7m to 10.5m. Suspecting discrepancies in the project, Aiyarappan had last month sought information on the project including fund sanctioned, government order, tender documents and section-wise details on the road’s width to be altered.
But, in its reply dated September 14, the department mentioned that the information sought cannot be disclosed citing section 8 (13) of RTI Act as an exemption from disclosure of information. “Section 8 shall be invoked only when the information sought affects the security and sovereignty of the country. The RTI was filed to avail details for a public road project, the reply was puzzling,” Aiyarappan said.
Other activists also questioned the denial of information for a public project. “Since the project is an ongoing one, tender documents can be shared so that work quality can be ensured,” Coimbatore based RTI activist S P Thiyagarajan said.
“As a public information officer, I have the right to deny information we feel irrelevant to public use. If appellate authority directs us to provide the information, we will share,” P Vadivel, divisional engineer, state highways department told TOI.
Meanwhile, whistleblowers raising complaints on Karur road project claim that they are facing indirect threats.
Last week, one Allur K Srinivasan, said that he was intimidated by an unidentified group near the department’s office as he had been protesting the lapses in the road project.
Aiyarappan also said that he was threatened last week by a local. Cantonment and Jeeyapuram police are inquiring.
The state highways department has landed in controversy after denying information to a query made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 seeking details on an ongoing road widening project. According to RTI activist, P Aiyarappan, who sought the details, the sub-section cited by the department for denying the information was irrelevant to the road project and does not exist under the Act.
The department in April had launched the Karur road widening work between Kudamurutti bridge and Thindukkarai at a cost of Rs 55 crore. The road was supposed to be widened from 7m to 10.5m. Suspecting discrepancies in the project, Aiyarappan had last month sought information on the project including fund sanctioned, government order, tender documents and section-wise details on the road’s width to be altered.
But, in its reply dated September 14, the department mentioned that the information sought cannot be disclosed citing section 8 (13) of RTI Act as an exemption from disclosure of information. “Section 8 shall be invoked only when the information sought affects the security and sovereignty of the country. The RTI was filed to avail details for a public road project, the reply was puzzling,” Aiyarappan said.
Other activists also questioned the denial of information for a public project. “Since the project is an ongoing one, tender documents can be shared so that work quality can be ensured,” Coimbatore based RTI activist S P Thiyagarajan said.
“As a public information officer, I have the right to deny information we feel irrelevant to public use. If appellate authority directs us to provide the information, we will share,” P Vadivel, divisional engineer, state highways department told TOI.
Meanwhile, whistleblowers raising complaints on Karur road project claim that they are facing indirect threats.
Last week, one Allur K Srinivasan, said that he was intimidated by an unidentified group near the department’s office as he had been protesting the lapses in the road project.
Aiyarappan also said that he was threatened last week by a local. Cantonment and Jeeyapuram police are inquiring.
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