Development work only on paper, says RTI activist

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 13

A city-based RTI activist has accused MC officials of resorting to irregularities. Varun Sareen said the MC claimed to have installed interlocking tiles on two streets but the work, in fact, hasn’t been done.

In response to an RTI application filed by Varun Sareen, the MC has claimed to have installed interlocking tiles on two streets in Rani Ka Bagh.

The RTI activist has procured the information about the development works executed in the last three years in Ward No. 52 (now 53) by filing an application at the MC office. The civic body provided a list of 52 development works. Sareen said, “In the list, MC officials have mentioned that interlocking tiles were installed on the street near house number 94 by spending Rs 47,500. Similarly, interlocking tiles near Sarswati College were installed at the cost of Rs 44,500. During verification, no such interlocking tiles were found in the said streets.”

Sareen claimed that the office had asked him in response to the RTI application to procure other supporting documents from office of executive engineer (civil wing) but even after writing to the officials concerned, they did not provide detailed reports about the development works.

The RTI activist has written to MC Commissioner Sonali Giri and demanded an inquiry into the development works done in Ward No. 52.

“Other development works executed by the MC are also not as per the standards. There is something fishy as the officials concerned are not providing documents. The MC should investigate the matter,” said Sareen.