Delhiites will soon be able to access much of the information pertaining to private parties engaged by the Jal Board for carrying out meter changing, meter reading and bill collection in their areas with consummate ease.
The Central Information Commission has directed the DJB to put out on its website the information pertaining to all memorandums of understanding (MOUs), contracts or other documents entered into between it and any private company or individual to engage them in these operations.
In an order issued to the Delhi Jal Board Secretary, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi recently demanded adherence to Section 4 of the RTI Act under which public authorities are under an obligation to make certain suo motu disclosures which ensure accountability in institutions and reduce the load of RTI applications being filed with them. The Commission said it had received representations from two persons, Ms. Aheli Chowdhury and Ms. Preeti Sampat, requesting that some additional information also be displayed by the DJB under its obligations mandated by Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
Noting that “this matter warrants larger public interest and information connected to it, as mandated by law, should be available proactively on the website of the department”, the Commission directed the DJB to provide all documents -- reports, circulars, notices, and proposals indicating the reasons for the decision to undertake each public private partnership.
It has also demanded that all contracts, agreements, proposals, MoUs, expression of interest related to the hiring of any consultants for the PPPs be put in the public domain. Similarly, it has called for making public all documents at any stage, submitted by a consultant for the PPPs.
It is also required to put on its website all documents indicating the budgets, expenses (estimated and undertaken), sources of finance including loans, grants and other monetary transactions related to the PPPs; details of public consultations held for these PPPs; the Water Board Amendment Bill; and all documents, reports, proposals, notices, contracts related to the preparation of the Water Board Amendment Bill and to the Master Plan for Sewerage System of Delhi for the year 2031.
The Commission has directed that the information be made available on the DJB website by September 1 and the compliance report be filed with it by September 10.
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