The Assam Information Commission (AIC), in response to an RTI second appeal case, has opined that the implementations of West Guwahati Water Supply Project (WGWSP), South Central Guwahati Water Supply Project (SCGWSP) and Central Guwahati Water Supply Project (CGWSP) have been badly delayed.
While the WGWSP is being implemented by Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the Guwahati Jal Board i.e. the Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board (GMDWSB) is the implementing authority in respect of the SCGWSP and the CGWSP.
Taking in view that the three water supply projects for Guwahati are of vital public interest, chief information commissioner of Assam HS Das through an order issued on February 9, directed GMDA and Guwahati Jal Board to suo-moto disclose the information relating to the present status of the implementation of the projects and copies of agreements between the concerned contractors and the implementing agencies, that is the public agencies within 30 days through their respective websites.
Such pro-active disclosure is mandatory and binding on all public authorities under Section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act, 2005.
The commission has reviewed the matter of compliance of its order by GMDA and Guwahati Jal Board on Friday. It was found that the GMDA has already uploaded the sought information in its website. Whereas, Guwahati Jal Board has prayed for time to upload the relevant information in the website due to shortage of manpower.
Now, the commission has granted Guwahati Jal Board time till April 20 and will review the matter on the same day.
