Every monsoon, in practically every town and city of Maharashtra and perhaps in other states of India as well, the roads develop potholes of all shapes and sizes, threatening the limbs and lives of the commuters. Since 30 years or more, this scenario has not changed. There is no iota of an attempt to rectify this, as it's not rocket science. Just that they have got used to corrupt methods as citizens are helpless, just cribbing about it or posting it on social media.
Also, pathetic implementation of solid waste management, unequal distribution of domestic and drinking water supply due to unbridled development and other factors result in poor civic amenities for citizens, who pay their taxes regularly.
Now that the municipal corporation elections are nearing (though the dates have not been announced yet), let us, as citizens, find out the performance of the municipal corporation in the past five years which would also showcase the performance of corporators as they give the final nod. For this, every citizen should file an RTI application under Section 6. And the good news is that you can do it online. This is the link for Maharashtra -
https://rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in/index-e.php
If you are not in Maharashtra, then you can search for the RTI online link of your state.
On Sunday, 23rd July, I filed the following RTI by the above link and paid Rs10 with my credit card. You may do the same and also ask for the information that I have asked for. You may add any other request but remember, for Maharashtra, you have to say it in 150 words.
I sought this information:
"1. Budgetary provisions in the last five years for road construction and road repairs, garbage, water supply, public gardens, water pipelines, sewage treatment, and sewage treatment plants
2. As per S-List, how many works were proposed, started, and finished? If not, reasons for the same. Pl provide copies
3. How many and which questions were asked by corporators in the sabhagruha about their wards? Pl provide copies"
Of course, under Section 6 of the RTI Act, the public information officer (PIO) has 30 days to provide the information. Since the municipal elections will not be announced or conducted in a tearing hurry, you will have a chance to be aware of the work done by corporators, though indirectly.
States RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, who habitually seeks information under the RTI Act from the Pune municipal corporation (PMC), “This should be taken up like an individual drive where hundreds of citizens on their own invoke the RTI Act for information on the performance of their municipal corporations, over the last five years. This helps in their assessment of what has happened to their tax money and how they should vote.”
Please note that, as per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, every municipal corporation is bound by the following 25 duties and responsibilities. So, you can seek information under the RTI Act for any of these:
CHAPTER VI
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES AND OFFICERS. Obligatory and Discretionary Duties of the Corporation.
63. It shall be incumbent on the Corporation to make reasonable and adequate provision, by any means or measures which it is lawfully competent to it to use or to take, for each of the following matters, namely —
(1) erection of substantial boundary marks of such description and in such positions as shall be approved by the 1[State] Government defining the limits or any alteration in the limits of the City; 2[(1a) planning for social and economic development;
(1b) urban forestry, protection of the environment, and promotion of ecological aspects;
(2) the watering, scavenging, and cleansing of all public streets and places in the City and the removal of all sweepings therefrom;
(3) the collection, removal, treatment and disposal of sewage, offensive matter and rubbish and, if so required by the 1[State] Government, the preparations of compost manure from such sewage, offensive matter and rubbish;
(4) the construction, maintenance and cleansing of drains and drainage work and of public latrines, water-closets, urinals and similar conveniences;
(5) the entertainment of a fire brigade equipped with suitable appliances for the extinction of fires and the protection of life and property against fire;
(6) the construction or acquisition and maintenance of public hospitals and dispensaries including hospitals for the isolation and treatment of persons suffering or suspected to be infected with a contagious or infectious disease and carrying out other measures necessary for public medical relief;
(7) the lighting of public streets, municipal markets and public buildings vested in the Corporation;
(8) the maintenance of a municipal office and of all public monuments and open spaces and other property vesting in Corporation;
(9) the naming or numbering of streets and of public places vesting in the Corporation and the numbering of premises;
(10) The regulation and abatement of offensive and dangerous trades or practices;
(11) The maintenance, change and regulation of places for the disposal of the dead and the provision of new places for the said purpose and disposing of unclaimed dead bodies;
(12) the construction or acquisition and maintenance of public markets and slaughterhouses and the regulation of all markets and slaughterhouses;
(13) the construction or acquisition and maintenances of cattle ponds;
(14) public vaccination in accordance with the provisions of the *Bombay District Vaccination Act, 1892;
(15) maintaining, aiding and suitably accommodating Schools for primary education;
(16) the reclamation of unhealthy localities, the removal of noxious vegetation and generally the abatement of all nuisances;
(17) the registration of births and deaths;
(18) the construction, maintenance, alteration and improvement of public streets, bridges, subways, culverts, cause-ways and the like;
(19) the removal of obstructions and projections in or upon streets, bridges, and other public places;
(20) the management and maintenance of all municipal water works and the construction or acquisition of new works necessary for a sufficient supply of water for public and private purposes;
(21) preventing and checking the spread of dangerous diseases;
(22) the securing or removal of dangerous buildings and places;
(23) the construction and maintenance of residential quarters for the municipal conservancy staff;
(24) fulfilment of any obligation imposed by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force;
(25) subject to adequate provision being made for the matters specified above, the provision of relief to destitute persons in the City in times of famine and scarcity and the establishment and maintenance of relief works in such times.
(Vinita Deshmukh is consulting editor of Moneylife. She is also the convener of the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan. She is the recipient of prestigious awards like the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting, which she won twice in 1998 and 2005 and the Chameli Devi Jain Award for outstanding media person for her investigation series on Dow Chemicals. She co-authored the book “To The Last Bullet - The Inspiring Story of A Braveheart - Ashok Kamte” with Vinita Kamte and is the author of “The Mighty Fall”.)
