The State Information Commission (SIC) has directed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to provide information to an RTI activist about the quality of drinking water supplied to certain areas of the city. The information was sought by an activist through an RTI, but the PHE didn’t pay heed to the activist’s plea.
The activist MM Shuja filed an RTI in July this year seeking information from the PHE department about the supply of drinking water to areas falling within the jurisdiction of Executive Engineer(PHE) Division Srinagar, details of areas within the jurisdiction of PHE Division Srinagar facing shortage of drinking water.
The activist has further asked details of water supply schemes and steps taken for the cleanliness of existing water storage tanks. Details of any fresh storage tank under construction, fresh storage tank proposed to be constructed within the division and plan for replacement of existing, tempered and rustic water pipes. He has also asked department about mechanism in place for the purification of drinking water and the type of machinery employed for such purification. The details of chemicals used for such purification / filtration, details of public water taps existing on road side colonies.
“The respondent was law bound to furnish the requisite information as expeditiously as possible and / or within the upper time limit of 30 days prescribed under the Act,” the activist informs State Information Commission.
Shuja urged the commission to impose a maximum penalty, as per the provisions of J&K RTI Act -2009, against the Public Information Officer (PIO) for not furnishing the information within the prescribed period so that it can serve as a deterrent for other PIO’s as well. Abdul Wahid, Chief Executive PHE said, “I have no knowledge about the RTI, but I will certainly inquire about it.”