PIO fined for not providing info on demolition expenses

The State Information Commission has fined a public information officer Rs 25,000 for not providing information on recovery made of cost incurred by demolishing illegal construction.

The order that was passed on November 9 by state Chief Information Commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad, claimed the applicant Reggie Dias, was received by him only on December 8. Dias, a resident of Kalina, had written several letters in the beginning of the year to the BMC stating that it recover the cost of demolitions.

"Demolitions are carried out and it is the tax payer's money that is wasted. Hence I had asked that such money be recovered from those who indulge in illegal construction," said Dias. In his application he had sought to know details of the action taken on his letter which stated the cost incurred by the BMC for demolishing illegal constructions, the extent of losses for not recovering such amount from the BMC, copies of communication after he had written letters and also the punishment for officials who deliberately do not act on such matters.

When the applicant did not get information, he filed a first appeal. Followed by a second appeal and show cause notice was issued to the Public Information Officer, Nandkumar Meghani. During the hearing, the commission was of the view that the information was not provided despite the PIO stating that he had given it.