Indian Express: Ahmedabad: Tuesday,
1 October 2024.
Gujarat Information
Commission (GIC) has ordered the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation
(WASMO) to put all the details related to Nal Se Jal scheme in Gujarat from its
beginning till 2023-24 on its website as a Proactive Disclosure (PAD) under the
provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In its order dated September
4, the Commission observed that it has passed the order so that every citizen
of Gujarat can get details of works done under Nal Se Jal scheme in their
villages.
State Information Commissioner Nikhil Bhatt passed the order while acting on an appeal moved by Paresh Patel, a resident of Kelod in Bharuch district. Patel had moved an application under the provisions of the RTI Act before the public information officer of WASMO district unit in Bharuch while seeking Nal Se Jal scheme-related information for the entire district.
Patel said he was provided partial information while stating that the remaining information can be received from the water committee of gram panchayats. Patel first moved an appeal before the appellate authority Executive Engineer of Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Bharuch district. However, he was informed that the information sought by him pertains to WASMO’s Gandhinagar office and so, he should submit an appeal before the WASMO office in the state capital.
Patel then moved a second appeal before the State Information Commission.
Citing a verdict of the Supreme Court and instructions given by the Central government, the Commission ordered that the information sought by the applicant cannot be provided since he has sought detailed and “huge” information of WASMO’s work done in all the villages of Bharuch district between 2019 and 2023.
It also said that providing such broad information will result in disproportionate usage of government resources. However, the Commission then stated that under the provisions of the RTI Act, WASMO is a public authority and it has not put information related to government schemes on its website as a proactive disclosure as per the rules of the RTI Act.
Citing a Supreme Court order on proactive disclosures to be made by public authorities on their websites under the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act, GIC, in its order, stated, “As per prevalent instructions, information of entire state (district wise, taluka-wise and village-wise with the help of drill down menu) was to be put on the website of WASMO by June 30, 2024. And accordingly, the latest schematic information has not been made available on the website of WASMO.”
State Information Commissioner Nikhil Bhatt passed the order while acting on an appeal moved by Paresh Patel, a resident of Kelod in Bharuch district. Patel had moved an application under the provisions of the RTI Act before the public information officer of WASMO district unit in Bharuch while seeking Nal Se Jal scheme-related information for the entire district.
Patel said he was provided partial information while stating that the remaining information can be received from the water committee of gram panchayats. Patel first moved an appeal before the appellate authority Executive Engineer of Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Bharuch district. However, he was informed that the information sought by him pertains to WASMO’s Gandhinagar office and so, he should submit an appeal before the WASMO office in the state capital.
Patel then moved a second appeal before the State Information Commission.
Citing a verdict of the Supreme Court and instructions given by the Central government, the Commission ordered that the information sought by the applicant cannot be provided since he has sought detailed and “huge” information of WASMO’s work done in all the villages of Bharuch district between 2019 and 2023.
It also said that providing such broad information will result in disproportionate usage of government resources. However, the Commission then stated that under the provisions of the RTI Act, WASMO is a public authority and it has not put information related to government schemes on its website as a proactive disclosure as per the rules of the RTI Act.
Citing a Supreme Court order on proactive disclosures to be made by public authorities on their websites under the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act, GIC, in its order, stated, “As per prevalent instructions, information of entire state (district wise, taluka-wise and village-wise with the help of drill down menu) was to be put on the website of WASMO by June 30, 2024. And accordingly, the latest schematic information has not been made available on the website of WASMO.”
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