Seniors’ Right to Information query hits deadend

 

 

MUMBAI: The Right to Information Act sounds good on paper, but how effective is it really?

 

Ask 103-year-old Vidyagauri J Thakore and her 81-year-old sister-in-law Khuswantiben K Desai, who had been for years in vain seeking information from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about the proposed development plans of their residential society, Ashawadi, in Andheri (west).

 

In August 2005, Thakore wrote to the BMC’s Building Proposal Department (BPD) seeking information under the Maharashtra Right to Information (MRI) Act and a certified copy of the approved Building Commencement Certificate (BCC) for Ashawadi, her home since 1929. She specifically sought information about any sanctions for construction upon the property using transferred development rights (TDR) that may have been issued to any builder.

 

The September 2005 response issued by the deputy chief engineer (building proposal—western suburbs) states: “…after diligent search, the file is not traceable. As per clause No.9(b) of the MRI Act, 2002, any information about any matter that has taken place 15 years before the date of the application may be provided. ...Hence your request to give certified true copies cannot be fulfilled at this stage.”

 

But the query about the construction sanctions was forgotten. Even a second application under the MRI Act failed to evoke any fresh answers.

 

Executive engineer of the BMC SN Abhang said, “The problem is that all the records go to the Bhandup office of the BMC. With the wear and tear that time can inflict upon these files, we are unable to prevent their damage. ”