Times of India: Chandigarh: Friday, 23 August
2024.
The
Central Information Commission has issued a showcause notice to Public
Information Officer (PIO), UT engineering department, over a tabletop pathway
in Sector 17
In Sept 2022, the UT Administration had started constructing a 180-metre-long tabletop pathway on the road behind Neelam Cinema in Sector 17 for the convenience of pedestrians.
However, the Engineering Department now claims it does not have technical details of the project.
Harman Singh Sidhu, president, ArriveSAFE, had filed an RTI application in Feb 2023, asking for copies of the Architectural Plan and technical specifications section of Request for Proposal / Tender document of the 180 metre tabletop behind Neelam Cinema, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The first appeal was heard on April 18, 2023, where the POI stated that requested information was with the consultant, and the First Appellate Authority directed him to supply the documents as and when received from the consultant.
The second appeal was filed on June 15, 2023. After this, the Central Information Commissioner, in an order dated Aug 21, 2024, issued a showcause notice to PIO, Engineering Department, as to why maximum penalty under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed against each of them for not providing the information and not appearing before the Commission despite notice, and provide point-wise information to the Appellant within four weeks. Sidhu said, "It is unimaginable that the Chandigarh Administration is clueless about the details of construction activities being undertaken in the heart of the City Beautiful, now a SMART City, casting a shadow on the working of the Engineering Department, UT, Chandigarh."
He also claimed that the project has been shoddily executed and is inaccessible for the physically challenged, and shakes cyclists and two-wheeler riders to the bone and is in violation of standards of Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, MoHUA, GoI and para 41 of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
In Sept 2022, the UT Administration had started constructing a 180-metre-long tabletop pathway on the road behind Neelam Cinema in Sector 17 for the convenience of pedestrians.
However, the Engineering Department now claims it does not have technical details of the project.
Harman Singh Sidhu, president, ArriveSAFE, had filed an RTI application in Feb 2023, asking for copies of the Architectural Plan and technical specifications section of Request for Proposal / Tender document of the 180 metre tabletop behind Neelam Cinema, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The first appeal was heard on April 18, 2023, where the POI stated that requested information was with the consultant, and the First Appellate Authority directed him to supply the documents as and when received from the consultant.
The second appeal was filed on June 15, 2023. After this, the Central Information Commissioner, in an order dated Aug 21, 2024, issued a showcause notice to PIO, Engineering Department, as to why maximum penalty under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed against each of them for not providing the information and not appearing before the Commission despite notice, and provide point-wise information to the Appellant within four weeks. Sidhu said, "It is unimaginable that the Chandigarh Administration is clueless about the details of construction activities being undertaken in the heart of the City Beautiful, now a SMART City, casting a shadow on the working of the Engineering Department, UT, Chandigarh."
He also claimed that the project has been shoddily executed and is inaccessible for the physically challenged, and shakes cyclists and two-wheeler riders to the bone and is in violation of standards of Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, MoHUA, GoI and para 41 of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
.JPG)
.JPG)
