Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 'Most RTI queries are about illegal buildings'

'Most RTI queries are about illegal buildings'

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jan 24, 2011   modified Modified on Jan 24, 2011
Information on illegal structures in their neighbourhood topped the list of queries asked by citizens, an analysis of RTI queries at an awareness camp showed.

Citizens expressed concern at the three-day RTI camp organized by Mahiti Adhikar Manch and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at Parel that concluded on Friday. "A majority of the 175 participants said that they wanted to file RTI queries related to unauthorized changes made in their neighbouring apartments and additional floors in buildings that threaten to weaken the structures," Bhaskar Prabhu, convener, Mahiti Adhikar Manch said.

"The queries were addressed to BMC's building proposal department asking why permission was granted for adding new lofts and floors. There were concerns that in many cases, the property owners had reduced the plinth of the structures," Prabhu said.

The civic authority is currently undertaking a massive demolition drive after the Bombay HC made scathing observations on the state's failure to curb illegal construction in the city. "Many commercial structures in the suburbs made structural changes in violation of civic norms. Civic officials are bribed to have them regularized," Prabhu said. Implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act was another issue the applicants wanted to file their RTI queries on.

"Under this section, the public authority has to suo moto provide information to citizens. If authorities put up basic information on their websites, like land records and permissions for building proposals, then applicants would not have to file RTI queries on these issues," he said.

The RTI camp was organized by assistant municipal commissioner Harshad Kale of F south ward as part of the implementation of clause 26 (1) of the Act that mentions the role of public authorities in informing people about the RTI Act through public campaigns.

"We plan to hold such campaigns in north central Mumbai and the western suburbs. Last year, many queries were regarding land owned by Mumbaikars in rural areas of Maharashtra that were encroached upon. They came back to us and told us that they got the land back using RTI," Prabhu said.

Activist Milind Mulay who was one amongst the 10 volunteers who took part in the camp said that many applicants though were not satisfied with information provided by the Public Information Officers. "Section 6 of the RTI act says that the PIO should assist applicants even in filing an RTI query if he does not know to do it properly. But many PIOs reject queries on flimsy grounds. The PIOs should be become more proactive so that the grievances of citizens are addressed properly,'' Mulay said.

He said that the civic authority should also post names of defaulters on its web site. "The BMC could reduce its water dues , running into hundreds of crores of rupees to a great extent, if they come out with the names of the big defaulters,'' Mulay who had filed an RTI query on this issue said.

The Times of India, 24 January, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Most-RTI-queries-are-about-illegal-buildings/articleshow/7349669.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close