RTI application to seek details about BBMP properties met with undue delay.
In a classic case of preaching-but-not-practising, the BBMP seems to have neither a building plan nor a property identification (PID) number for its own headquarters despite making it mandatory for property owners across the city.
This came to light when an RTI application for procuring details about BBMP properties and PID number of its headquarters was met with an undue delay. City-based RTI activist, LS Mallikarjuna, taking strong objection to the BBMP’s decision to re-launch the PID programme and wasting tax payers’ money, filed an RTI application seeking PID on properties, parks and vacant land owned by the BBMP.
But when the BBMP provided evasive replies, he suspected something amiss and sought additional information on the PID number of the BBMP headquarters.
When officials failed to provide information even after waiting for several months, Mallikarjuna approached the state information commission, seeking necessary directions.
Admitting the plea, the commission directed BBMP’s executive engineer (MPED division), L Chandrashekhar, to provide the details within 30 days. It also issued a show-cause notice on why he should not be slapped with a fine for delaying the information.
On being provided a range of lame excuses for the nine-month delay in providing the details, the state information commission slapped a fine of Rs25,000 on Chandrashekhar.
The commission has sent a letter to the BBMP commissioner, alerting him about the lapses on maintaining vital records of the BBMP property.
The commission noted that although Chandrashekhar received the RTI request on August 9, 2010, he replied with the partial information with a rough sketch after a lapse of eight months.
Despite this, the BBMP failed to provide the PID number. However, BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda said: “Not all officials know how to dispose of RTI cases. A workshop for BBMP officials to handle RTI applications will be held to create awareness in this regard.”
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