Times of India: Ahmedabad: Tuesday,
1 October 2024.
Noting that work done under
the ‘Nal Se Jal' water supply scheme is not available on the website of the
Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO), the information
commission, in an order passed on Sep 4, directed WASMO to make proactive
disclosure of its work.
Applicant Paresh Patel had, in May 2023, sought details through an RTI application about how many households received tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Nal Se Jal Scheme, how many talukas and villages were covered, and details of the work done from 2019 to 2023. He also sought details of the amount of grants used and the names of the agencies involved.
The applicant was directed to get information for the same from the water supply department. He filed a first appeal at the district level, after which he filed a second appeal, which was heard by the information commissioner on Sep 4, 2024.
The information commission noted in its order that according to Section 4(1) of the RTI Act, details of schemes, expenditures, allocated funds, issued permits and approved works should be proactively disclosed and made available on the website. The commissioner emphasized that all public authorities must create a proactive disclosure system, but WASMO has not done so.
The information commission also noted that the general administration department has issued more than 10 circulars for observing a proactive disclosure system, but WASMO has not implemented these circulars.
Applicant Paresh Patel had, in May 2023, sought details through an RTI application about how many households received tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Nal Se Jal Scheme, how many talukas and villages were covered, and details of the work done from 2019 to 2023. He also sought details of the amount of grants used and the names of the agencies involved.
The applicant was directed to get information for the same from the water supply department. He filed a first appeal at the district level, after which he filed a second appeal, which was heard by the information commissioner on Sep 4, 2024.
The information commission noted in its order that according to Section 4(1) of the RTI Act, details of schemes, expenditures, allocated funds, issued permits and approved works should be proactively disclosed and made available on the website. The commissioner emphasized that all public authorities must create a proactive disclosure system, but WASMO has not done so.
The information commission also noted that the general administration department has issued more than 10 circulars for observing a proactive disclosure system, but WASMO has not implemented these circulars.
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