Despite threats, activists soldier on, ask for support
times of india, chennai edition page no.4, 8th july 2011
Karthika Gopalakrishnan | TNN
When RTI activist V Gopalakrishnan gets a call on his mobile from an unknown number he starts recording the call. “Do you hear the beep? It’s recording. Please cut the call and call back later,” he says after he is convinced that the caller is not going to threaten him.
For Gopalakrishnan, threats are par for the course. They come with the territory of RTI activism.
Last year, he had filed an RTI request asking for the property details of an official when he got a call from a local politician asking Gopalakrishnan to withdraw his request. But Gopalakrishnan had used his mobile phone to record the conversation and used it as audio evidence in a complaint to the police. Though not much came of the complaint, such precautions help, he says.
P Balasubramaniam, an activist in Cuddalore, says that he was threatened by a builder when he filed an RTI request asking if government poromboke land had been converted to housing plots.
The threats first start
as soft and polite conversation, says V Balakiruttinan, an activist in Vayaloor, Vandavasi. Those who could land in trouble due to the RTI request then send those known to the activist with a request to compromise. “We explain to them that we are doing this for a larger social cause. We want solutions and are not interested in compromise,” he says.
Balakiruttinan explains that networking with other activists and working as a team helps to handle threats. The activists, however, are convinced that threats and attempts to browbeat can be beaten back if there is a critical mass of people joining the fight against corruption using the act.
At the same time, many TOI readers, while supporting RTI as a tool to fight corruption, ask for more details. They want to know how to file RTI requests and take follow up action. But, already, many NGOs have taken up the cause of promoting awareness of RTI and popularizing it among the people.
Various fora have come up to address this gap starting from RTI clubs in educational institutions such as the one run at Shree Niketan Matriculation School. Institutions of higher education such as Vellore Institute of Technology have an RTI chapter, set up in association with Fifth Pillar India, a non-governmental organisation.
“We distribute ‘zerorupee’ notes at schools as a symbolic gesture of our bid to discourage corruption and talk to students from classes VI to XII about the RTI Act and how they can use it,” said T Jayaseelan, Manager — Administration and RTI, Fifth Pillar Indian NGO.
He suggested that each district collectorate could conduct RTI awareness programmes every Monday as grievance redressal meetings were held on the same day. Gopalakrishnan said that advertisements in Tamil dailies and allocation of funds from the government for non-governmental organisations to carry out awareness campaigns on RTI, as carried out by National Aids Control Organisation on HIV-AIDS, would help carry the message to the grassroots, Gopalakrishnan suggested.
Social studies textbooks in schools should describe the RTI process
Information commissioners should be non-bureaucrats so they have no vested interest
Funds can be given to NGOs promoting awareness like in the AIDS control programme
Signboards in all offices needed to explain the process
Showing posts with label times of india. Show all posts
Showing posts with label times of india. Show all posts
Friday, July 8, 2011
‘How many know about RTI?’
‘How many know about RTI?’
times of india, chennai edition page no.4.
TOI Readers Are Enthusiastic About Fighting Corruption Through RTI. But Many Want To Know How
• How many of us know about RTI? Hardly a single digit percentage of population is aware of such an act. Even those like me who know a bit about the act don’t know all the details such as where to file an application andhow to file. There are many questions about the act. Awareness among the common people is important. —Shalji V
• Culprit government officers should be traced and punished. —S Murali
• Charge a moderately good amount from the public for services rendered by government departments and pay incentives to employees, but take strong action to root out their delaying tactics. —Ravindranath Kavuri
• Officers work best under fear here so create the fear to get things done.
—Sudarshan
• The government must be creative to bring awareness to the common man about RTI. But unfortunately there is a resistance to following rules and regulations. Officials must be taught to follow rules. As punishment, officers should be sent to experience how the common man is affected for not disclosing information at the right time.
—Iruthayaraj Teresa
• Create awareness among common people. —Akila
• RTI is useful only for educated and courageous people as the government and its employees are quite powerful and will intimidate the people who demand their rights. But RTI should not be the only tool to corner the corrupt. Those who protest against corruption should be protected. At the end of the day, common people also engage in and encourage corruption. Punishing the officers who do not disclose information is the right thing to do. This is a good action. Make officials follow the rules. The concerned lower-level employees should also be punished as the these officials are more involved in corruption than higher officers. Online filing will help those who are busy. Having a grievance mechanism to follow up on the complaints is a very good idea. Along with reprimanding and punishing the concerned officials, the victims should also be compensated by this mechanism. —N Lokanathan
• If we make the process of filing RTI easier, i.e, through online and so on, a huge volume of petitions will come in, which could be difficult to manage and track. So we need to recruit more people to handle RTI complaints or link the RTI process with a state-level Lokayukta to handle the work load.
—Aananth C N
• Try to spread RTI in rural areas.
—Sabina
• Appoint public relations officers in each government office who can give details about RTI. —Chinnasamy
• Making it easier to file RTI applications online would enable more users to address their concerns. —Ashok
• RTI is the golden "key". To use this key, especially in critical situations, everyone should understand the law very well. To use this key, knowledge is essential. Only the state government can educate people and make them aware. State and central governments can take many steps to promote RTI awareness. One way is to educate and motivate people to use RTI. RTI should be included in social studies subjects in schools. They should be made part of the curriculum. College-level seminars on RTI should be arranged to encourage students. Social clubs and NGOs also have an important role to play in increasing awareness. Ultimately, people who have regular jobs in companies should be able to use RTI if they are only keen and alert.
—V Srinivasan
• Create a grievance mechanism so that information unearthed by RTI is followed up and corrective action taken!
—S Venugopalan
times of india, chennai edition page no.4.
TOI Readers Are Enthusiastic About Fighting Corruption Through RTI. But Many Want To Know How
• How many of us know about RTI? Hardly a single digit percentage of population is aware of such an act. Even those like me who know a bit about the act don’t know all the details such as where to file an application andhow to file. There are many questions about the act. Awareness among the common people is important. —Shalji V
• Culprit government officers should be traced and punished. —S Murali
• Charge a moderately good amount from the public for services rendered by government departments and pay incentives to employees, but take strong action to root out their delaying tactics. —Ravindranath Kavuri
• Officers work best under fear here so create the fear to get things done.
—Sudarshan
• The government must be creative to bring awareness to the common man about RTI. But unfortunately there is a resistance to following rules and regulations. Officials must be taught to follow rules. As punishment, officers should be sent to experience how the common man is affected for not disclosing information at the right time.
—Iruthayaraj Teresa
• Create awareness among common people. —Akila
• RTI is useful only for educated and courageous people as the government and its employees are quite powerful and will intimidate the people who demand their rights. But RTI should not be the only tool to corner the corrupt. Those who protest against corruption should be protected. At the end of the day, common people also engage in and encourage corruption. Punishing the officers who do not disclose information is the right thing to do. This is a good action. Make officials follow the rules. The concerned lower-level employees should also be punished as the these officials are more involved in corruption than higher officers. Online filing will help those who are busy. Having a grievance mechanism to follow up on the complaints is a very good idea. Along with reprimanding and punishing the concerned officials, the victims should also be compensated by this mechanism. —N Lokanathan
• If we make the process of filing RTI easier, i.e, through online and so on, a huge volume of petitions will come in, which could be difficult to manage and track. So we need to recruit more people to handle RTI complaints or link the RTI process with a state-level Lokayukta to handle the work load.
—Aananth C N
• Try to spread RTI in rural areas.
—Sabina
• Appoint public relations officers in each government office who can give details about RTI. —Chinnasamy
• Making it easier to file RTI applications online would enable more users to address their concerns. —Ashok
• RTI is the golden "key". To use this key, especially in critical situations, everyone should understand the law very well. To use this key, knowledge is essential. Only the state government can educate people and make them aware. State and central governments can take many steps to promote RTI awareness. One way is to educate and motivate people to use RTI. RTI should be included in social studies subjects in schools. They should be made part of the curriculum. College-level seminars on RTI should be arranged to encourage students. Social clubs and NGOs also have an important role to play in increasing awareness. Ultimately, people who have regular jobs in companies should be able to use RTI if they are only keen and alert.
—V Srinivasan
• Create a grievance mechanism so that information unearthed by RTI is followed up and corrective action taken!
—S Venugopalan
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Soon, track status of RTI plea online
Soon, track status of RTI plea online
Karthika GopalakrishnanKarthika Gopalakrishnan, TNN | Jul 4, 2011, 05.40am IST
CHENNAI: In a move to promote greater transparency, the State Information Commission (SIC) will soon help individuals, who have sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, know the status of their application through phone, SMS and the internet. Set to be implemented in phases, the new software that is being procured from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for this purpose is likely to be put through a trial run starting July 15, state chief information commissioner K S Sripathi told TOI.
"Our original target was to bring this into effect in June but there was a delay as NIC was sorting out a few issues with the software. We are hoping to do a trial run of people calling by phone to check the status of their application starting July 15," he said. By August, the commission plans to introduce the option for applicants to check the status of their case through SMS and through the SIC website.
Pointing out that this would spare applicants the effort of making a visit to the commission in person to enquire about the status, Sripathi added that the SIC was also working on organising its files with an efficient retrieval system now in place and trained personnel to handle files dating back three years.
RTI applicants say that the commission has come a long way in the last year. "About eight months ago, the commission did not even put up copies of its orders online or maintain a record of the number of cases that were received every month. This system can be used by applicants to file RTI applications every month just to find out the status of their original application. Otherwise, they would have no idea what happened to their original application," said V Madhav, an RTI activist.
Other activists such as V Gopalakrishnan concur with the observation. "This move will help people from the districts get access to information. For instance, if a person has filed an RTI query from Kanyakumari, he or she need not come all the way to Chennai to enquire about the status of his application," he said.
Karthika GopalakrishnanKarthika Gopalakrishnan, TNN | Jul 4, 2011, 05.40am IST
CHENNAI: In a move to promote greater transparency, the State Information Commission (SIC) will soon help individuals, who have sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, know the status of their application through phone, SMS and the internet. Set to be implemented in phases, the new software that is being procured from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for this purpose is likely to be put through a trial run starting July 15, state chief information commissioner K S Sripathi told TOI.
"Our original target was to bring this into effect in June but there was a delay as NIC was sorting out a few issues with the software. We are hoping to do a trial run of people calling by phone to check the status of their application starting July 15," he said. By August, the commission plans to introduce the option for applicants to check the status of their case through SMS and through the SIC website.
Pointing out that this would spare applicants the effort of making a visit to the commission in person to enquire about the status, Sripathi added that the SIC was also working on organising its files with an efficient retrieval system now in place and trained personnel to handle files dating back three years.
RTI applicants say that the commission has come a long way in the last year. "About eight months ago, the commission did not even put up copies of its orders online or maintain a record of the number of cases that were received every month. This system can be used by applicants to file RTI applications every month just to find out the status of their original application. Otherwise, they would have no idea what happened to their original application," said V Madhav, an RTI activist.
Other activists such as V Gopalakrishnan concur with the observation. "This move will help people from the districts get access to information. For instance, if a person has filed an RTI query from Kanyakumari, he or she need not come all the way to Chennai to enquire about the status of his application," he said.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Chennai Corporation spent Rs 50 cr on advertisements
Chennai Corporation spent Rs 50 cr on advertisements
[ Date : Mar 10th, 2011 ]
The Chennai Corporation has spent a Rs 50 crore in the last five years towards advertisement cost. This included tenders, and repeated tenders, as contractors failed to show up in the initial rounds due to rise in prices of construction items. The administration, however, said the increased spend on advertisements reflected its increased infrastructure development.
In its reply to the city-based RTI activist V Gopalakrishnan, the local body said Rs 17 crore was spent towards advertisement charges in 2008-2009. The expenditure was Rs 14.8 crore in 2007-2008. In the previous two fiscals, it spent Rs 13 crore. At the end of its last fiscal of its previous term, the AIADMK-led elected council managed spent only Rs 1.35 crore under this head.
The RTI reply said the department availed only budgetary allocations. The civic budget has a separate provision for advertisement charges and the council had cleared the expenses every year. “It only proves the fact that infrastructure development has really taken place,” a senior official said.
One of the probable reasons for the increased expenditure on advertisements is the poor response from contractors for several projects, forcing the corporation to repeat tender advertisements. Contractors had stayed away from work after price of construction materials increased in 2007. There were instances, when the civic body had to issue more than five tenders for a project, for want of contractors. If an automated parking system at Broadway terminus demanded four calls, modernization of Perambur abattoir required several more calls.
The local body is relying heavily on property tax collection this fiscal to meet expenses arising out of the sixth pay commission recommendations. The budgetary provisions for this year show that a Rs 510 crore is required for implementing pay commission recommendations to hundreds of civic staff, even as the revenue department is likely to raise only Rs 410 crore under the property tax head. The agency is now eyeing external funding agencies for loans for various works.
Sources said Rs 1,378.4 crore worth development works had taken place during the last five years. “It is sad that a large part of the money is used for advertisements, when allotment for basic services for urban poor got cancelled” said A Subramani, a CPI councillor. This is because; many beneficiaries could not shell out their share of cost to construct a tiny house.
[ Date : Mar 10th, 2011 ]
The Chennai Corporation has spent a Rs 50 crore in the last five years towards advertisement cost. This included tenders, and repeated tenders, as contractors failed to show up in the initial rounds due to rise in prices of construction items. The administration, however, said the increased spend on advertisements reflected its increased infrastructure development.
In its reply to the city-based RTI activist V Gopalakrishnan, the local body said Rs 17 crore was spent towards advertisement charges in 2008-2009. The expenditure was Rs 14.8 crore in 2007-2008. In the previous two fiscals, it spent Rs 13 crore. At the end of its last fiscal of its previous term, the AIADMK-led elected council managed spent only Rs 1.35 crore under this head.
The RTI reply said the department availed only budgetary allocations. The civic budget has a separate provision for advertisement charges and the council had cleared the expenses every year. “It only proves the fact that infrastructure development has really taken place,” a senior official said.
One of the probable reasons for the increased expenditure on advertisements is the poor response from contractors for several projects, forcing the corporation to repeat tender advertisements. Contractors had stayed away from work after price of construction materials increased in 2007. There were instances, when the civic body had to issue more than five tenders for a project, for want of contractors. If an automated parking system at Broadway terminus demanded four calls, modernization of Perambur abattoir required several more calls.
The local body is relying heavily on property tax collection this fiscal to meet expenses arising out of the sixth pay commission recommendations. The budgetary provisions for this year show that a Rs 510 crore is required for implementing pay commission recommendations to hundreds of civic staff, even as the revenue department is likely to raise only Rs 410 crore under the property tax head. The agency is now eyeing external funding agencies for loans for various works.
Sources said Rs 1,378.4 crore worth development works had taken place during the last five years. “It is sad that a large part of the money is used for advertisements, when allotment for basic services for urban poor got cancelled” said A Subramani, a CPI councillor. This is because; many beneficiaries could not shell out their share of cost to construct a tiny house.
RTI activists see red in info commissioners' appointment
RTI activists see red in info commissioners' appointment
Wednesday, 03.02.2011, (GMT+5.5)
Chennai: RTI activists are angry with the state government for having appointed three commissioners to the Tamil Nadu Information Commission just before the model code of conduct came into force, with zero transparency.
The government announced the appointments on Tuesday, hours before the election commission announced the poll date. Already, the appointment of former chief secretary KS Sripathi as the chief information commissioner is in a legal tangle after RTI activists alleging that there was no transperancy in the appointment process.
The appointment of Dr PA Ramiah, C Manoharan and Arumuga Nainar as the new information commissioners in the existing vacancy on Monday came as a surprise to many RTI groups and activists who have been urging the government to maintain transparency.
"Section 15 of RTI Act says any person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance is eligible to apply for the post. We have been asking the government to issue newspaper advertisements calling for applications, shortlist the names and then go for selection. We want the government to clarify how the three commissioners came to know of filling up of the vacancies and applied for it,'' said V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist who was arrested for staging a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan demanding transperancy in the appointment of chief information commissioner KS Sripathi in September last.
"Information commission is the place from where transparency should begin, but it is unfortunate that the appointments to such a commission is being made in a secret manner. This reduces the appointments to political in the eyes of the public. We, along with several other RTI groups, will convene a meeting this week to oppose this,'' said G Balaji of Public Awareness Campaign Energy Trust, Thirumangalam.
While the selection committee includes the chief minister, Opposition leader and a minister deputed by the chief minister, the decision of appointing the three commissioners was taken by chief minister M Karunanidhi and finance minister K Anbazhagan, in the absence of Opposition leader J Jayalalithaa.
"We don't question the government prerogative in selecting the commissioners, but want to point out that a proper interpretation of Section 15 of RTI Act can only be taken as there must be unanimity in the selection committee in the appointments and there is no question of majority opinion in it. When there are only three persons in a committee and two of them belong to the ruling party, it can only be the decision of the ruling party,'' said Anti-Corruption Movement state general secretary SM Arasu.
Wednesday, 03.02.2011, (GMT+5.5)
Chennai: RTI activists are angry with the state government for having appointed three commissioners to the Tamil Nadu Information Commission just before the model code of conduct came into force, with zero transparency.
The government announced the appointments on Tuesday, hours before the election commission announced the poll date. Already, the appointment of former chief secretary KS Sripathi as the chief information commissioner is in a legal tangle after RTI activists alleging that there was no transperancy in the appointment process.
The appointment of Dr PA Ramiah, C Manoharan and Arumuga Nainar as the new information commissioners in the existing vacancy on Monday came as a surprise to many RTI groups and activists who have been urging the government to maintain transparency.
"Section 15 of RTI Act says any person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance is eligible to apply for the post. We have been asking the government to issue newspaper advertisements calling for applications, shortlist the names and then go for selection. We want the government to clarify how the three commissioners came to know of filling up of the vacancies and applied for it,'' said V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist who was arrested for staging a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan demanding transperancy in the appointment of chief information commissioner KS Sripathi in September last.
"Information commission is the place from where transparency should begin, but it is unfortunate that the appointments to such a commission is being made in a secret manner. This reduces the appointments to political in the eyes of the public. We, along with several other RTI groups, will convene a meeting this week to oppose this,'' said G Balaji of Public Awareness Campaign Energy Trust, Thirumangalam.
While the selection committee includes the chief minister, Opposition leader and a minister deputed by the chief minister, the decision of appointing the three commissioners was taken by chief minister M Karunanidhi and finance minister K Anbazhagan, in the absence of Opposition leader J Jayalalithaa.
"We don't question the government prerogative in selecting the commissioners, but want to point out that a proper interpretation of Section 15 of RTI Act can only be taken as there must be unanimity in the selection committee in the appointments and there is no question of majority opinion in it. When there are only three persons in a committee and two of them belong to the ruling party, it can only be the decision of the ruling party,'' said Anti-Corruption Movement state general secretary SM Arasu.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
RTI activists peeved at ‘selective revelations’
RTI activists peeved at ‘selective revelations’
Jeeva, TNN, Nov 19, 2010, 03.42am IST
CHENNAI: Y Aruldoss, a right to information (RTI) activist in Ayanavaram, was aghast when he received an order from the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission last week saying he could not ask for details affecting the functioning of a public authority. The commission, in the order, also advised him to ask for only the "required information".
He was understandably agitated because the RTI Act does not limit the number of queries that can be raised in an application. The applicant had filed an appeal with the commission after the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) had failed to reply to 10 of 42 queries about slum eviction in the city.
"The TNSCB denied me the details by misrepresenting section 7(9) of the Act. I moved the commission asking it to direct the board to disclose the complete information I had sought. But the commission passed the order which only goes against the spirit of the law. The commission did not even mention the legal provision under which it upheld the rejection of my application,'' said Aruldoss, who is also the youth coordinator of National Alliance of People's Movement, which has been working for the cause of slum-dwellers.
The commission passed a similar order last week to another RTI application, which he had filed with the Public Works Department relating to slum eviction and construction of elevated highways in Chennai. V Gopalakrishnan, another RTI activist in KK Nagar, has the same complaint. "I wanted a reply from the revenue authorities to seven queries about the distribution of flood relief of `2,000 per family in nine residential colonies in my area in 2008, but I did not get the reply. I moved the commission, which in turn said I should ask only limited information under the RTI Act,'' Gopalakrishnan said. He then moved the commission for a second time, seeking a full-bench hearing. He said the appeal has been pending for over a year now.
Many RTI campaigners pointed out that several public authorities reject applications by wrongly interpreting section 7(9), which says that "an information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question."
Jeeva, TNN, Nov 19, 2010, 03.42am IST
CHENNAI: Y Aruldoss, a right to information (RTI) activist in Ayanavaram, was aghast when he received an order from the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission last week saying he could not ask for details affecting the functioning of a public authority. The commission, in the order, also advised him to ask for only the "required information".
He was understandably agitated because the RTI Act does not limit the number of queries that can be raised in an application. The applicant had filed an appeal with the commission after the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) had failed to reply to 10 of 42 queries about slum eviction in the city.
"The TNSCB denied me the details by misrepresenting section 7(9) of the Act. I moved the commission asking it to direct the board to disclose the complete information I had sought. But the commission passed the order which only goes against the spirit of the law. The commission did not even mention the legal provision under which it upheld the rejection of my application,'' said Aruldoss, who is also the youth coordinator of National Alliance of People's Movement, which has been working for the cause of slum-dwellers.
The commission passed a similar order last week to another RTI application, which he had filed with the Public Works Department relating to slum eviction and construction of elevated highways in Chennai. V Gopalakrishnan, another RTI activist in KK Nagar, has the same complaint. "I wanted a reply from the revenue authorities to seven queries about the distribution of flood relief of `2,000 per family in nine residential colonies in my area in 2008, but I did not get the reply. I moved the commission, which in turn said I should ask only limited information under the RTI Act,'' Gopalakrishnan said. He then moved the commission for a second time, seeking a full-bench hearing. He said the appeal has been pending for over a year now.
Many RTI campaigners pointed out that several public authorities reject applications by wrongly interpreting section 7(9), which says that "an information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question."
Vendors cashing in on shortage of stamp paper
Vendors cashing in on shortage of stamp paper
Jeeva, TNN, Oct 22, 2010, 02.59am IST
CHENNAI: Thangaraj, a resident of Thirumangalam, has not been able to prepare the rental agreement for his tenant for over three weeks now, for want of a stamp paper. Although he approached several stamp vendors in the city, he was unable to procure the commodity.
Shortage of stamp papers, particularly in the denomination of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50, has been affecting the execution of agreements and filing of affidavits in various tribunals in the city now. Consequently, many stamp vendors sell papers for 10% to 20% more than the face value.
"The shortage has been acute since the beginning of this month. Only on Monday, we could buy the Rs 100 stamp paper, but still we are unable to buy papers of lower denominations," said advocate P Venugopal, practising in the Madras high court. Many lawyers said they needed to keep a stock of stamp papers for their business needs, to execute various different kinds of agreements and affidavits in judicial forums like Intellectual Property Appellate Tribunal and to get certified order copies. However, they are struggling to acquire the papers.
Besides, there are complaints that licensed vendors are selling stamp papers and court fee stamps for more than the value printed on them, even if there is no shortage. "If we want to buy ten court fee stamps of Rs 10 each, the vendors charge Rs 120 instead of Rs 100. I have already complained to the authorities. Action should be taken against the violators. The state government should consider selling stamp papers and court fee stamps through banks and post offices so that there won't be any opportunity for such complaints,'' said V Gopalakrishnan, a Right to Information ( RTI) activist and resident of KK Nagar.
Officials at the district treasury office in Broadway said they had to source the stamp paper from Nasik and Hyderabad and there was some delay in receiving the stock. "The papers have just been delivered and we are in the process of distributing them," treasury officials said.
On complaints against licensed stamp vendors for charging a higher rate, Inspector General of Registration, D Sabitha told The Times of India that stamp vendors were getting the papers at a discount and they should not be selling it for more than the face value. "People can complain about such irregularities. Even if there is no evidence to support their complaints, we will still warn the vendors that such violations will lead to their licence being revoked,'' Sabitha said.
Jeeva, TNN, Oct 22, 2010, 02.59am IST
CHENNAI: Thangaraj, a resident of Thirumangalam, has not been able to prepare the rental agreement for his tenant for over three weeks now, for want of a stamp paper. Although he approached several stamp vendors in the city, he was unable to procure the commodity.
Shortage of stamp papers, particularly in the denomination of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50, has been affecting the execution of agreements and filing of affidavits in various tribunals in the city now. Consequently, many stamp vendors sell papers for 10% to 20% more than the face value.
"The shortage has been acute since the beginning of this month. Only on Monday, we could buy the Rs 100 stamp paper, but still we are unable to buy papers of lower denominations," said advocate P Venugopal, practising in the Madras high court. Many lawyers said they needed to keep a stock of stamp papers for their business needs, to execute various different kinds of agreements and affidavits in judicial forums like Intellectual Property Appellate Tribunal and to get certified order copies. However, they are struggling to acquire the papers.
Besides, there are complaints that licensed vendors are selling stamp papers and court fee stamps for more than the value printed on them, even if there is no shortage. "If we want to buy ten court fee stamps of Rs 10 each, the vendors charge Rs 120 instead of Rs 100. I have already complained to the authorities. Action should be taken against the violators. The state government should consider selling stamp papers and court fee stamps through banks and post offices so that there won't be any opportunity for such complaints,'' said V Gopalakrishnan, a Right to Information ( RTI) activist and resident of KK Nagar.
Officials at the district treasury office in Broadway said they had to source the stamp paper from Nasik and Hyderabad and there was some delay in receiving the stock. "The papers have just been delivered and we are in the process of distributing them," treasury officials said.
On complaints against licensed stamp vendors for charging a higher rate, Inspector General of Registration, D Sabitha told The Times of India that stamp vendors were getting the papers at a discount and they should not be selling it for more than the face value. "People can complain about such irregularities. Even if there is no evidence to support their complaints, we will still warn the vendors that such violations will lead to their licence being revoked,'' Sabitha said.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Complaints pour in on old-age pension
Complaints pour in on old-age pension
18 Sep, 2010 0357hrs IST TNN[ Julie Mariappan ]
CHENNAI: Every morning for over a week recently, 80-year-old Panjatsaram Ammal had visited the Mambalam-Guindy taluk office on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai.
The resident of Nehru Nagar in Guindy, who had been getting the old-age pension of the state government every month since 1976, hadn't got the sum of Rs 400 for August. "Till a week ago, the postman kept telling me my pension had not been disbursed. The taluk officials say they disbursed the sum. Who is correct? Will I get the money?" she wondered.
She wasn't the only one. P Chandra of K K Nagar, Banu of Saidapet, K Jaya Ammal of T Nagar, Karuppannan and Ulagammal of Kannamapet had similar tales of woe. All claimed they had been getting the money reguraly and had proof.
Said P Chandra : "The taluk officials confirmed the disbursement but I haven't got it. I even shell out Rs 20 to the postman," she said. With two grand-daughters to care for, Chandra, a cobbler, struggles to make ends meet.
Social activists say a few corrupt postal staff are to blame. "This kind of exploitation happens in all taluk offices. The pensioners are forced to give Rs 20 to the postman concerned," said V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India.
Chennai collector V Shobana pleaded ignorance of the issue. "This is the first time, I'm getting to know of such a thing. The postal department staff will be enquired," she told TOI. The revenue department pays pensions to 2.43 lakh people in Chennai under various heads.
Chennai Post Master General M S Ramanujan told TOI that many of the beneficiaries were not genuine. "We asked the revenue secretary to check the mechanism of identifying the genuineness of beneficiaries. At least 3% of the amount is transferred back to the exchequer every month due to the address being incorrect or the beneficary having died. Genuine beneficiaries will be paid," he said.
Eight postmen were suspended in the city recently on charges of extracting money from pensioners and making payment for the deceased, he added.
18 Sep, 2010 0357hrs IST TNN[ Julie Mariappan ]
CHENNAI: Every morning for over a week recently, 80-year-old Panjatsaram Ammal had visited the Mambalam-Guindy taluk office on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai.
The resident of Nehru Nagar in Guindy, who had been getting the old-age pension of the state government every month since 1976, hadn't got the sum of Rs 400 for August. "Till a week ago, the postman kept telling me my pension had not been disbursed. The taluk officials say they disbursed the sum. Who is correct? Will I get the money?" she wondered.
She wasn't the only one. P Chandra of K K Nagar, Banu of Saidapet, K Jaya Ammal of T Nagar, Karuppannan and Ulagammal of Kannamapet had similar tales of woe. All claimed they had been getting the money reguraly and had proof.
Said P Chandra : "The taluk officials confirmed the disbursement but I haven't got it. I even shell out Rs 20 to the postman," she said. With two grand-daughters to care for, Chandra, a cobbler, struggles to make ends meet.
Social activists say a few corrupt postal staff are to blame. "This kind of exploitation happens in all taluk offices. The pensioners are forced to give Rs 20 to the postman concerned," said V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India.
Chennai collector V Shobana pleaded ignorance of the issue. "This is the first time, I'm getting to know of such a thing. The postal department staff will be enquired," she told TOI. The revenue department pays pensions to 2.43 lakh people in Chennai under various heads.
Chennai Post Master General M S Ramanujan told TOI that many of the beneficiaries were not genuine. "We asked the revenue secretary to check the mechanism of identifying the genuineness of beneficiaries. At least 3% of the amount is transferred back to the exchequer every month due to the address being incorrect or the beneficary having died. Genuine beneficiaries will be paid," he said.
Eight postmen were suspended in the city recently on charges of extracting money from pensioners and making payment for the deceased, he added.
CBI RAIDS ON POST OFFICES IN CITY
GREAT PENSION ROBBERY
times of india chennai edition 23 sept 2010
CBI RAIDS ON POST OFFICES IN CITY MAY HAVE UNCOVERED ONLY THE TIP OF A SCAM WHOSE VICTIMS ARE AMONG THE POOREST OF THE POOR
Julie Mariappan | TNN
Chennai: Tamil Nadu,which prides itself in doling out welfare schemes worth thousands of crores,is sitting on a mega scam that robs widows,destitute women,the physically handicapped and the elderly of their meagre monthly pension of 400.There are 2.43 lakh people in the city availing the pension.
Following a TOI expose on Saturday,CBI has started cracking down on a few post offices in and around Ashok Nagar,where staff have been either collecting illegal commission or pocketing the entire amount.The four post offices raided by the CBI covers 50,000 such beneficiaries,suggesting that postal employees have been stealing lakhs from pensioners every month.
Lack of monitoring of pension disbursement has emboldened several postmen to make a killing.There is no proper coordination between the postal department and the revenue department, says V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India,an NGO.
Social activists suggest introduction of biometric systems and savings bank accounts with nil balance to put an end to the exploitation.This could also save the 40 crore spent by the revenue department, said C Selvaraj,a Chennai-based RTI activist.
The Perambur-Purasawalkkam taluk has the largest number of pensioners (60,058),followed by Fort-Tondiarpet (54,549),Mambalam-Guindy (52,190),Mylapore-Triplicane (40,496) and Egmore-Nungambakkam (35,957).The understaffed revenue department pays the postal department 20 per pensioner ( 40 crore annually) to be disbursed through electronic money order.
Not many pensioners know that the sum should be delivered at their doorstep,as postmen insist that the beneficiaries collect it from the post office.Recently,the postal staff in Periyar Nagar near Perambur intimidated P Chandrabose,a social worker,who questioned the illegality.
According to activists,the postal departments EMO tracking system through personal name record (PNR) number on the official website of India Posts or sending SMS to 55352 is not of any use,as a majority of the pensioners are illiterates.Taluk offices are flooded with complaints every month on non-disbursement of pension.
Chennai post master general MS Ramanujan had earlier told TOI that not many pensioners turn up at pension adalats conducted in each postal division every quarter.
THATS THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES
MODUS OPERANDI
Monthly pension of 400 is disbursed through money order by revenue dept with help of the post office.Postmen deliver money at the doorstep of the pensioner.The government pays 20 commission per pensioner to the postal department
MONEY TRAIL
The pensioners can track their MO with the Electronic Money Order (EMO) tracking system.This can be done using the PNR number on the official website of India Post or by sending an SMS to 55352.This is however not of any use,as majority of the pensioners are illiterates
LOOPHOLE
The postmen force the elderly people to pay 20 to 40 as commission to deliver the meagre sum of 400 on time.In some cases,the postmen pocket the entire pension amounts.On some occasions,postmen have even managed to disburse the sum to deceased pensioner for more than two years
OFFICIAL APATHY
The MO acknowledgement slips end up at the taluk offices in gunny bags sent from post offices.Understaffed revenue department fails to verify the authenticity of each receipt
HISTORY
To provide social security to destitute aged persons,the state introduced the Old Age Pension Scheme in 1962.An amount of 20 per month was paid to the beneficiaries with the inception of the scheme on March 31,1979.The pension amount was thereafter increased at regular intervals.In 2006,the government decided to increase the pension amount from 200 to 400
FUNDING
The Centre contributes 200 out of the total of 400 pension for the elderly and the destitute.The balance amount of 200 is borne by the state.The revenue department pays the postal department 20 per pensioner and incurs an expenditure of 40 crore annually
BENEFICIARIES
The number of pensioners in each taluk are
Perambur-Purasawalkam 60,058
Fort-Tondiarpet 54,549
Mambalam-Guindy 52,190
Mylapore-Triplicane 40,496
Egmore-Nungambakkam 35,957
Total (in Chennai) 2,43,250
PENSION CATEGORIES
Old-age 1,10,074
Widow 1,19,377
Physically challenged 7,180
Destitute widow 5,695
Spinster 924
times of india chennai edition 23 sept 2010
CBI RAIDS ON POST OFFICES IN CITY MAY HAVE UNCOVERED ONLY THE TIP OF A SCAM WHOSE VICTIMS ARE AMONG THE POOREST OF THE POOR
Julie Mariappan | TNN
Chennai: Tamil Nadu,which prides itself in doling out welfare schemes worth thousands of crores,is sitting on a mega scam that robs widows,destitute women,the physically handicapped and the elderly of their meagre monthly pension of 400.There are 2.43 lakh people in the city availing the pension.
Following a TOI expose on Saturday,CBI has started cracking down on a few post offices in and around Ashok Nagar,where staff have been either collecting illegal commission or pocketing the entire amount.The four post offices raided by the CBI covers 50,000 such beneficiaries,suggesting that postal employees have been stealing lakhs from pensioners every month.
Lack of monitoring of pension disbursement has emboldened several postmen to make a killing.There is no proper coordination between the postal department and the revenue department, says V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India,an NGO.
Social activists suggest introduction of biometric systems and savings bank accounts with nil balance to put an end to the exploitation.This could also save the 40 crore spent by the revenue department, said C Selvaraj,a Chennai-based RTI activist.
The Perambur-Purasawalkkam taluk has the largest number of pensioners (60,058),followed by Fort-Tondiarpet (54,549),Mambalam-Guindy (52,190),Mylapore-Triplicane (40,496) and Egmore-Nungambakkam (35,957).The understaffed revenue department pays the postal department 20 per pensioner ( 40 crore annually) to be disbursed through electronic money order.
Not many pensioners know that the sum should be delivered at their doorstep,as postmen insist that the beneficiaries collect it from the post office.Recently,the postal staff in Periyar Nagar near Perambur intimidated P Chandrabose,a social worker,who questioned the illegality.
According to activists,the postal departments EMO tracking system through personal name record (PNR) number on the official website of India Posts or sending SMS to 55352 is not of any use,as a majority of the pensioners are illiterates.Taluk offices are flooded with complaints every month on non-disbursement of pension.
Chennai post master general MS Ramanujan had earlier told TOI that not many pensioners turn up at pension adalats conducted in each postal division every quarter.
THATS THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES
MODUS OPERANDI
Monthly pension of 400 is disbursed through money order by revenue dept with help of the post office.Postmen deliver money at the doorstep of the pensioner.The government pays 20 commission per pensioner to the postal department
MONEY TRAIL
The pensioners can track their MO with the Electronic Money Order (EMO) tracking system.This can be done using the PNR number on the official website of India Post or by sending an SMS to 55352.This is however not of any use,as majority of the pensioners are illiterates
LOOPHOLE
The postmen force the elderly people to pay 20 to 40 as commission to deliver the meagre sum of 400 on time.In some cases,the postmen pocket the entire pension amounts.On some occasions,postmen have even managed to disburse the sum to deceased pensioner for more than two years
OFFICIAL APATHY
The MO acknowledgement slips end up at the taluk offices in gunny bags sent from post offices.Understaffed revenue department fails to verify the authenticity of each receipt
HISTORY
To provide social security to destitute aged persons,the state introduced the Old Age Pension Scheme in 1962.An amount of 20 per month was paid to the beneficiaries with the inception of the scheme on March 31,1979.The pension amount was thereafter increased at regular intervals.In 2006,the government decided to increase the pension amount from 200 to 400
FUNDING
The Centre contributes 200 out of the total of 400 pension for the elderly and the destitute.The balance amount of 200 is borne by the state.The revenue department pays the postal department 20 per pensioner and incurs an expenditure of 40 crore annually
BENEFICIARIES
The number of pensioners in each taluk are
Perambur-Purasawalkam 60,058
Fort-Tondiarpet 54,549
Mambalam-Guindy 52,190
Mylapore-Triplicane 40,496
Egmore-Nungambakkam 35,957
Total (in Chennai) 2,43,250
PENSION CATEGORIES
Old-age 1,10,074
Widow 1,19,377
Physically challenged 7,180
Destitute widow 5,695
Spinster 924
Postal staff rob widows,elderly of 400 pension
The great pension robbery of TN 22sept 2010
Postal staff rob widows,elderly of 400 pension
Julie Mariappan | TNN
Chennai: Tamil Nadu,which prides itself in doling out welfare schemes worth thousands of crores of rupees,is sitting on a mega scam that robs widows,destitute women,the physically handicapped and the elderly of their meagre monthly pension of Rs 400.There are 2.43 lakh people in the city availing of the government pension.
Following a TOI expose on Saturday,CBI has started cracking down on a few post offices where the staff have been either collecting illegal commission or pocketing the entire amount.The four post offices raided by CBI covers 50,000 such beneficiaries,suggesting that the postal employees have been stealing lakhs of rupees from the pensioners every month.
Lack of monitoring of the pension disbursement emboldened postmen to make a killing.There is no proper coordination between the postal department and the revenue department,as illiterate pensioners are taken for a ride, says V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India,an NGO.
Social activists suggest introduction of biometric systems and savings bank accounts with nil balance to put an end to the exploitation.This could also save the Rs 40 crore spent by revenue department (it pays the postal department Rs 20 per pension),which could be diverted for some development work, said C Selvaraj,a Chennai-based RTI activist said.In the absence of such a system,the elderly assemble in the second and third weeks of the month in anticipation of the postman.From those lucky few who get their pension on time,the postman takes Rs 20 to Rs 40.Not many pensioners know that the sum should be delivered at their doorstep.Most pensioners are too scared to even ask the postmen if the money has come.They might think I am being impatient and get offended and they might not give me the money.So,I just wait, said D Rajathiammal.
Postal staff rob widows,elderly of 400 pension
Julie Mariappan | TNN
Chennai: Tamil Nadu,which prides itself in doling out welfare schemes worth thousands of crores of rupees,is sitting on a mega scam that robs widows,destitute women,the physically handicapped and the elderly of their meagre monthly pension of Rs 400.There are 2.43 lakh people in the city availing of the government pension.
Following a TOI expose on Saturday,CBI has started cracking down on a few post offices where the staff have been either collecting illegal commission or pocketing the entire amount.The four post offices raided by CBI covers 50,000 such beneficiaries,suggesting that the postal employees have been stealing lakhs of rupees from the pensioners every month.
Lack of monitoring of the pension disbursement emboldened postmen to make a killing.There is no proper coordination between the postal department and the revenue department,as illiterate pensioners are taken for a ride, says V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India,an NGO.
Social activists suggest introduction of biometric systems and savings bank accounts with nil balance to put an end to the exploitation.This could also save the Rs 40 crore spent by revenue department (it pays the postal department Rs 20 per pension),which could be diverted for some development work, said C Selvaraj,a Chennai-based RTI activist said.In the absence of such a system,the elderly assemble in the second and third weeks of the month in anticipation of the postman.From those lucky few who get their pension on time,the postman takes Rs 20 to Rs 40.Not many pensioners know that the sum should be delivered at their doorstep.Most pensioners are too scared to even ask the postmen if the money has come.They might think I am being impatient and get offended and they might not give me the money.So,I just wait, said D Rajathiammal.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Amid protests, Sripathi takes over as TN chief info officer [Chennai]
Amid protests, Sripathi takes over as TN chief info officer [Chennai]
Times of India, The, Sep 3, 2010
CHENNAI: Former chief secretary KS Sripathi was sworn in Tamil Nadu's chief information commissioner (CIC) on Wednesday amid protests by Right to Information (RTI) activists.
About 20 minutes before governor Surjit Singh Barnala was to administer the oath of office to Sripathi at 11.30am, three RTI activists gathered in front of the Raj Bhavan. Blindfolded with black ribbons, they held placards bearing slogans 'Save RTI', 'Want transparency in CIC's selection' and 'Non-transparent appointment for upholding transparency?' As soon as they started raising slogans, they were picked up by police personnel.
One of the activists, V Madhav, who was later released, said the protest was not against Sripathi, but against the lack of transparency in the appointment of the CIC.
Soon after being sworn in, Sripathi parried journalists' queries. When asked whether he had applied for the CIC's post or if he was nominated by the government, he said: "You can ask for information (under the RTI Act)." To another query on why only bureaucrats were always being appointed CIC in Tamil Nadu, he replied: "It's only the second time. You cannot say second time is always." Would he be a proactive CIC? "There is nothing called pro-active," came the reply, "I will be an active CIC."
On the RTI activists' charge that there was no transparency in his appointment, Sripathi said: "It is their opinion. I cannot help it." He brushed aside the allegation that he was not transparent in his previous assignments, saying, "There is no truth in it."
RTI activists had campaigned against his appointment, saying as vigilance commissioner Sripathi had pushed for exempting the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and the Tamil Nadu Vigilance Commission from the purview of the RTI Act. Also, when he was chief secretary, Sripathi had challenged the order of the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, which had directed the government to disclose details as to whether IAS and IPS officers had disclosed their assets.Besides Madhav of the Association For India's Development, the other activists who were picked up by the police were V Gopalakrishnan of the Federation of Anti-Corruption Teams-India and Siva Elango of the Makkal Sakthi Katchi. For
Times of India, The, Sep 3, 2010
CHENNAI: Former chief secretary KS Sripathi was sworn in Tamil Nadu's chief information commissioner (CIC) on Wednesday amid protests by Right to Information (RTI) activists.
About 20 minutes before governor Surjit Singh Barnala was to administer the oath of office to Sripathi at 11.30am, three RTI activists gathered in front of the Raj Bhavan. Blindfolded with black ribbons, they held placards bearing slogans 'Save RTI', 'Want transparency in CIC's selection' and 'Non-transparent appointment for upholding transparency?' As soon as they started raising slogans, they were picked up by police personnel.
One of the activists, V Madhav, who was later released, said the protest was not against Sripathi, but against the lack of transparency in the appointment of the CIC.
Soon after being sworn in, Sripathi parried journalists' queries. When asked whether he had applied for the CIC's post or if he was nominated by the government, he said: "You can ask for information (under the RTI Act)." To another query on why only bureaucrats were always being appointed CIC in Tamil Nadu, he replied: "It's only the second time. You cannot say second time is always." Would he be a proactive CIC? "There is nothing called pro-active," came the reply, "I will be an active CIC."
On the RTI activists' charge that there was no transparency in his appointment, Sripathi said: "It is their opinion. I cannot help it." He brushed aside the allegation that he was not transparent in his previous assignments, saying, "There is no truth in it."
RTI activists had campaigned against his appointment, saying as vigilance commissioner Sripathi had pushed for exempting the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and the Tamil Nadu Vigilance Commission from the purview of the RTI Act. Also, when he was chief secretary, Sripathi had challenged the order of the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, which had directed the government to disclose details as to whether IAS and IPS officers had disclosed their assets.Besides Madhav of the Association For India's Development, the other activists who were picked up by the police were V Gopalakrishnan of the Federation of Anti-Corruption Teams-India and Siva Elango of the Makkal Sakthi Katchi. For
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Activists worried as officials defy RTI panel orders [Chennai]
Activists worried as officials defy RTI panel orders [Chennai]
| Times of India, The, Aug 16, 2010 | by Jeeva
CHENNAI: P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
| Times of India, The, Aug 16, 2010 | by Jeeva
CHENNAI: P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from
RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors
Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST
Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors - Chennai - City - The Times of India
CHENNAI: The Right To Information (RTI) Act may have come as a weapon in the hands of the common man seeking transperancy in governance, but those using the enactment are also increasingly becoming vulnerable as demonstrated by the killing of an RTI activist in Gujarat on Tuesday.
In Tamil Nadu, activists who focus on environmental degradation due to sand mining and the nexus between corrupt government staff, contractors of civil work and local politicians routinely face intimidation. They are often targeted after officials learn about the RTI applications filed seeking details of expenditure on various schemes.
P Balasubramanian, a retired village administrative officer and a social worker in Cuddalore, recently received threats from a builder after he filed an application under the RTI Act a couple of months ago pertaining to certain unauthorised constructions in the district.
"I lodged a police complaint as I was threatened, but the police chose to close the case. But I am not going to leave it that. Now I am going to file an RTI application with the police department to furnish me the copy of the inquiry report,'' Balasubramanian said.
In a similar case in Tiruvannamalai district, R Balakrishnan, a 63-year old retired school headmaster, recently lodged a police complaint against a local politician who along his supporters tresspassed on his (Balakrishnan's) property and threatened him of dire consequences if he continued to file RTI applications.
Acting on his complaint, the police summoned and warned the political functionary and also obtained a written undertaking that he would not commit the offence again. Balakrishnan had filed RTI applications with the civic bodies and government agencies in connection with irregularities in laying of roads and water pipelines and planting of saplings.
"We want to use the RTI Act to eliminate corrupt practices in the government and it obviously puts obstacles in the path of those who indulge in corruption. But I am not scared,'' said the retired headmaster.
M Thuyamurthy, an anti-corruption campaigner at Tondiarpet in Chennai, was similarly threatened by a gang that barged into a fisheries office when he was inspecting the records of the fisheries cooperative societies under the RTI Act pertaining to certain irregularities.
The State Information Commission recently ordered inquiry into the complaint made by V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist in KK Nagar in Chennai, against two unidentified persons who wanted him to withdraw an application he had filed seeking to know details of assets of a tahsildar in the revenue department.
"It is the need of the hour that the government ensure the safety of RTI activists. There must be a separate department to deal with RTI issues and inquiries on complaints made by applicants should be conducted by an independent body and not by the department to which the RTI application is filed,'' Gopalakrishnan said.
Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST
Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors - Chennai - City - The Times of India
CHENNAI: The Right To Information (RTI) Act may have come as a weapon in the hands of the common man seeking transperancy in governance, but those using the enactment are also increasingly becoming vulnerable as demonstrated by the killing of an RTI activist in Gujarat on Tuesday.
In Tamil Nadu, activists who focus on environmental degradation due to sand mining and the nexus between corrupt government staff, contractors of civil work and local politicians routinely face intimidation. They are often targeted after officials learn about the RTI applications filed seeking details of expenditure on various schemes.
P Balasubramanian, a retired village administrative officer and a social worker in Cuddalore, recently received threats from a builder after he filed an application under the RTI Act a couple of months ago pertaining to certain unauthorised constructions in the district.
"I lodged a police complaint as I was threatened, but the police chose to close the case. But I am not going to leave it that. Now I am going to file an RTI application with the police department to furnish me the copy of the inquiry report,'' Balasubramanian said.
In a similar case in Tiruvannamalai district, R Balakrishnan, a 63-year old retired school headmaster, recently lodged a police complaint against a local politician who along his supporters tresspassed on his (Balakrishnan's) property and threatened him of dire consequences if he continued to file RTI applications.
Acting on his complaint, the police summoned and warned the political functionary and also obtained a written undertaking that he would not commit the offence again. Balakrishnan had filed RTI applications with the civic bodies and government agencies in connection with irregularities in laying of roads and water pipelines and planting of saplings.
"We want to use the RTI Act to eliminate corrupt practices in the government and it obviously puts obstacles in the path of those who indulge in corruption. But I am not scared,'' said the retired headmaster.
M Thuyamurthy, an anti-corruption campaigner at Tondiarpet in Chennai, was similarly threatened by a gang that barged into a fisheries office when he was inspecting the records of the fisheries cooperative societies under the RTI Act pertaining to certain irregularities.
The State Information Commission recently ordered inquiry into the complaint made by V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist in KK Nagar in Chennai, against two unidentified persons who wanted him to withdraw an application he had filed seeking to know details of assets of a tahsildar in the revenue department.
"It is the need of the hour that the government ensure the safety of RTI activists. There must be a separate department to deal with RTI issues and inquiries on complaints made by applicants should be conducted by an independent body and not by the department to which the RTI application is filed,'' Gopalakrishnan said.
Activists worried as officials defy RTI panel orders
CHENNAI: August 16, 2010:
times of india, jeeva
P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
Source: TOI
times of india, jeeva
P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
Source: TOI
aruna criticises Jaya for skipping CIC selection meet
Karuna criticises Jaya for skipping CIC selection meet
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
times of india, chennai edition, page no.5
Chennai: Criticising opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner (CIC), chief minister M Karunanidhi said on Tuesday that it had become a habit with her to ignore invitations to attend meetings, including all-party deliberations.
Asked by reporters at the DMK headquarters about her absence, he said when the last CIC was appointed, the then opposition leader, K Anbazhagan, had attended the meeting and accepted the majority view about the appointment made by the then CM Jayalalithaa and finance minister C Ponnaiyan. “Anbazhagan cooperated with the selection process in a dignified manner,” Karunanidhi said.
Meanwhile, official sources said that governor SS Barnala had signed the appointment order, even as RTI activists petitioned him to ensure transparency in the selection process. Jaya not given details of meeting, says AIADMK
Chennai: Chief minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday criticised opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner.
On Monday, the panel, comprising the chief minister and the finance minister, met in Jayalalithaa’s absence and sent a recommendation to the governor. AIADMK sources claimed that Jayalalithaa, a member of the committee as required under the RTI Act, kept away because she was not given in advance details of the candidates under consideration for appointment.
Asked whether she had given any reason for her absence, Karunanidhi did not give a specific reply, but said, in general, she kept away from meetings convened by him, including all-party ones on important issues concerning the state’s interests and on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. “I will invite her, but she won’t come. Sometimes, she will write to me criticising me or my government and say that she is boycotting the meeting,” he said. With the state government tight-lipped over the name of the person recommended for the CIC’s post, a group of RTI activists have petitioned the governor to ensure transparency in the selection process, saying that the government was trying to keep the exercise under wraps.
The RTI Act says that the CIC shall be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. The activists want the government to prescribe rules stipulating advertisements through media calling for applications, prescribing minimum educational qualifications and experience for candidates, for testing the capability and integrity of the applicants, shortlisting the candidates and inviting public objections, if any, before sending the names to the selection committee. With media reports speculating that chief secretary KS Sripathi, retired IAS officer Shanta Sheela Nair or information commissioner TR Ramasamy were the likely candidates, the activists, in their representation to the governor on Tuesday, said they wanted to meet him in person to brief him as to how there had been no effort from the government to initiate a transparent procedure, despite repeated requests.
“It is a great irony that the appointment of the very person who is expected to uphold transparency is happening in such a hush-hush manner,’’ said the representation, signed by V Madhav of the Association for India’s Development on behalf of a team of activists campaigning for transparency. “CIC is like a backbone for the Act as he can ensure transparency in governance. The government should, at least, fulfil obligations under Section 4 of the Act as per which it should publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public,” said V Gopalakrishnan, another campaigner.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
times of india, chennai edition, page no.5
Chennai: Criticising opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner (CIC), chief minister M Karunanidhi said on Tuesday that it had become a habit with her to ignore invitations to attend meetings, including all-party deliberations.
Asked by reporters at the DMK headquarters about her absence, he said when the last CIC was appointed, the then opposition leader, K Anbazhagan, had attended the meeting and accepted the majority view about the appointment made by the then CM Jayalalithaa and finance minister C Ponnaiyan. “Anbazhagan cooperated with the selection process in a dignified manner,” Karunanidhi said.
Meanwhile, official sources said that governor SS Barnala had signed the appointment order, even as RTI activists petitioned him to ensure transparency in the selection process. Jaya not given details of meeting, says AIADMK
Chennai: Chief minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday criticised opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner.
On Monday, the panel, comprising the chief minister and the finance minister, met in Jayalalithaa’s absence and sent a recommendation to the governor. AIADMK sources claimed that Jayalalithaa, a member of the committee as required under the RTI Act, kept away because she was not given in advance details of the candidates under consideration for appointment.
Asked whether she had given any reason for her absence, Karunanidhi did not give a specific reply, but said, in general, she kept away from meetings convened by him, including all-party ones on important issues concerning the state’s interests and on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. “I will invite her, but she won’t come. Sometimes, she will write to me criticising me or my government and say that she is boycotting the meeting,” he said. With the state government tight-lipped over the name of the person recommended for the CIC’s post, a group of RTI activists have petitioned the governor to ensure transparency in the selection process, saying that the government was trying to keep the exercise under wraps.
The RTI Act says that the CIC shall be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. The activists want the government to prescribe rules stipulating advertisements through media calling for applications, prescribing minimum educational qualifications and experience for candidates, for testing the capability and integrity of the applicants, shortlisting the candidates and inviting public objections, if any, before sending the names to the selection committee. With media reports speculating that chief secretary KS Sripathi, retired IAS officer Shanta Sheela Nair or information commissioner TR Ramasamy were the likely candidates, the activists, in their representation to the governor on Tuesday, said they wanted to meet him in person to brief him as to how there had been no effort from the government to initiate a transparent procedure, despite repeated requests.
“It is a great irony that the appointment of the very person who is expected to uphold transparency is happening in such a hush-hush manner,’’ said the representation, signed by V Madhav of the Association for India’s Development on behalf of a team of activists campaigning for transparency. “CIC is like a backbone for the Act as he can ensure transparency in governance. The government should, at least, fulfil obligations under Section 4 of the Act as per which it should publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public,” said V Gopalakrishnan, another campaigner.
ree goes ‘missing’ from MGR Nagar
Tree goes ‘missing’ from MGR Ngr
A Selvaraj | TNN
times of india, page no.3, chennai edition
Chennai: An assistant executive engineer of the Chennai Corporation on Monday went to the MGR Nagar police station and lodged a complaint about a tree going missing from VM Balakrishnan Salai. The odhyan tree (Indian ash tree), about 25ft tall, was under the care of the city corporation.
“We noticed a six-year-old tree on VM Balakrishnan Salai near Thiru Nagar missing. The tree was chopped off on Sunday. Immediately, we lodged a police complaint.” assistant executive engineer (Zone 9) A Nachan said.
“If anyone wants a tree to be removed from the road citing hindrance to traffic or pedestrians, the matter has to be first discussed with park overseers. If at all the tree has to be removed, it can be done only after getting permission from senior corporation officials. No one is allowed to chop down trees on the road on their own and it is punishable under the law. The police have promised to take severe action against those who have cut the tree,” the engineer said.
Police sources said the people who had cut the tree could have used a power hacksaw. While some of the smaller branches were found on the roadside, the main trunk was missing from the spot.
Based on the complaint of the engineer, the MGR Nagar police registered a case and are investigating. “We suspect a resident, who had been asking corporation staff to remove the tree from the road. A few days ago, when Electricity Board workers dug up the road, it became a hindrance for the resident to use the road. We have summoned some of the residents for an inquiry,” a senior police officer said.
ROOTED OUT: The corporation has filed a police complaint about the tree that was chopped without permission
A Selvaraj | TNN
times of india, page no.3, chennai edition
Chennai: An assistant executive engineer of the Chennai Corporation on Monday went to the MGR Nagar police station and lodged a complaint about a tree going missing from VM Balakrishnan Salai. The odhyan tree (Indian ash tree), about 25ft tall, was under the care of the city corporation.
“We noticed a six-year-old tree on VM Balakrishnan Salai near Thiru Nagar missing. The tree was chopped off on Sunday. Immediately, we lodged a police complaint.” assistant executive engineer (Zone 9) A Nachan said.
“If anyone wants a tree to be removed from the road citing hindrance to traffic or pedestrians, the matter has to be first discussed with park overseers. If at all the tree has to be removed, it can be done only after getting permission from senior corporation officials. No one is allowed to chop down trees on the road on their own and it is punishable under the law. The police have promised to take severe action against those who have cut the tree,” the engineer said.
Police sources said the people who had cut the tree could have used a power hacksaw. While some of the smaller branches were found on the roadside, the main trunk was missing from the spot.
Based on the complaint of the engineer, the MGR Nagar police registered a case and are investigating. “We suspect a resident, who had been asking corporation staff to remove the tree from the road. A few days ago, when Electricity Board workers dug up the road, it became a hindrance for the resident to use the road. We have summoned some of the residents for an inquiry,” a senior police officer said.
ROOTED OUT: The corporation has filed a police complaint about the tree that was chopped without permission
Downpour batters city roads
Downpour batters city roads
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
25/8/2010 chennai page no.2
Chennai: The northeast monsoon is still months away but the heavy spells during last week have already left several interior and arterial roads in the city battered. Compounding the problems for motorists is the digging up of many stretches for laying of utility lines.
Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Royapettah High Road, Sterling Road, Anna Main Road in K K Nagar and Binny Road off Anna Salai are some of the worst-affected where rains have caused huge potholes. Attempts are being made to fill the potholes with debris but they are not enough to ensure a smooth ride. Improper consolidation of dug-up roads is causing concern, as the corporation has granted permission to several agencies for laying cables.
A classic example of a badly battered stretch is Anna Main Road off KK Nagar. The arterial road is the vital link for many coming from Jafferkhanpet, MGR Nagar, Nesapakkam and Ramapuram to move onto interior areas. According to V Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Pammal Nallathambi Street, MGR Nagar, the civic body has not made any efforts to restore the road for years, despite appeals. “The rains have added to the chaos,” he said. Metrowater dug up the road for laying pipelines under the Chennai City River Conservation Project a decade ago but the stretch has given way since then due to poor soil conditions.
The unseasonal rains, according to corporation office, are only going to delay road-relaying works. As per the original schedule, at least 60 bus route roads, for which tenders have been finalised, should have been relaid on or before September 19. Now with the continuous downpour, even roads that need repair, such as Tiruvottriyur High Road, Cemetery Road, De Mellows Road, Dr Ambedkar College Road, Purasawalkam High Road, Velachery Main Road, R K Mutt Road, Luz Church Road and Ramapuram Main Road, will have to wait.
Several stretches in the southern suburbs have also become unmotorable. Part of GST Road in Pallavaram, Pammal and Tambaram has been worn out. Rains have also left Station Border Road in Chromepet, Ram Nagar in Madipakkam, Velachery Main Road and Camp Road near East Tambaram with huge potholes.
The 9km-long Medavakkam Main Road, a state highway, has lost most of its bitumen and a large number of potholes now dot the stretch. The state highways department, the nodal agency that maintains the stretch, had only recently relaid it. “Every day, at least four accidents occur along the stretch. The rains only add to the misery to the residents,” said Mohammed Ismail, a trader in Keelkattalai. More rains likely for next 2 days
Chennai: Cloudy, wet weather is on the cards over the next few days in Tamil Nadu, with the southwest monsoon being quite active over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, the formation of a low pressure area over west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal promises plenty of rainfall over the next two days.
“Although there has been a slight reduction in rains compared to last week, the trough extending over the peninsula promises plenty of scattered rainfall, specially over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said Regional Meteorological Centre deputy director general YEA Raj.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, close to 8cm of rainfall was recorded in the city, fetching Chennai more than half its monthly normal of approximately 14cm. Last Wednesday also saw day temperature falling by four degrees Celsius from the monthly normal of 34 degrees. “ A similar fall in day temperature is expected on Wednesday and Thursday as well, and likely to be in the region of 31 degrees,” said Met officials.
On Tuesday, the city experienced heavy rains in Guindy and other areas close to the airport (6 mm of rainfall), although in Nungambakkam and other areas there was very little rain, accounting for just 1mm.
AFTERMATH OF RAINS: Most of the roads have lost their bitumen and are ridden with potholes after the recent rains
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
25/8/2010 chennai page no.2
Chennai: The northeast monsoon is still months away but the heavy spells during last week have already left several interior and arterial roads in the city battered. Compounding the problems for motorists is the digging up of many stretches for laying of utility lines.
Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Royapettah High Road, Sterling Road, Anna Main Road in K K Nagar and Binny Road off Anna Salai are some of the worst-affected where rains have caused huge potholes. Attempts are being made to fill the potholes with debris but they are not enough to ensure a smooth ride. Improper consolidation of dug-up roads is causing concern, as the corporation has granted permission to several agencies for laying cables.
A classic example of a badly battered stretch is Anna Main Road off KK Nagar. The arterial road is the vital link for many coming from Jafferkhanpet, MGR Nagar, Nesapakkam and Ramapuram to move onto interior areas. According to V Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Pammal Nallathambi Street, MGR Nagar, the civic body has not made any efforts to restore the road for years, despite appeals. “The rains have added to the chaos,” he said. Metrowater dug up the road for laying pipelines under the Chennai City River Conservation Project a decade ago but the stretch has given way since then due to poor soil conditions.
The unseasonal rains, according to corporation office, are only going to delay road-relaying works. As per the original schedule, at least 60 bus route roads, for which tenders have been finalised, should have been relaid on or before September 19. Now with the continuous downpour, even roads that need repair, such as Tiruvottriyur High Road, Cemetery Road, De Mellows Road, Dr Ambedkar College Road, Purasawalkam High Road, Velachery Main Road, R K Mutt Road, Luz Church Road and Ramapuram Main Road, will have to wait.
Several stretches in the southern suburbs have also become unmotorable. Part of GST Road in Pallavaram, Pammal and Tambaram has been worn out. Rains have also left Station Border Road in Chromepet, Ram Nagar in Madipakkam, Velachery Main Road and Camp Road near East Tambaram with huge potholes.
The 9km-long Medavakkam Main Road, a state highway, has lost most of its bitumen and a large number of potholes now dot the stretch. The state highways department, the nodal agency that maintains the stretch, had only recently relaid it. “Every day, at least four accidents occur along the stretch. The rains only add to the misery to the residents,” said Mohammed Ismail, a trader in Keelkattalai. More rains likely for next 2 days
Chennai: Cloudy, wet weather is on the cards over the next few days in Tamil Nadu, with the southwest monsoon being quite active over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, the formation of a low pressure area over west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal promises plenty of rainfall over the next two days.
“Although there has been a slight reduction in rains compared to last week, the trough extending over the peninsula promises plenty of scattered rainfall, specially over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said Regional Meteorological Centre deputy director general YEA Raj.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, close to 8cm of rainfall was recorded in the city, fetching Chennai more than half its monthly normal of approximately 14cm. Last Wednesday also saw day temperature falling by four degrees Celsius from the monthly normal of 34 degrees. “ A similar fall in day temperature is expected on Wednesday and Thursday as well, and likely to be in the region of 31 degrees,” said Met officials.
On Tuesday, the city experienced heavy rains in Guindy and other areas close to the airport (6 mm of rainfall), although in Nungambakkam and other areas there was very little rain, accounting for just 1mm.
AFTERMATH OF RAINS: Most of the roads have lost their bitumen and are ridden with potholes after the recent rains
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Corpn turns blind eye to shops, hotels eating into public space
Corpn turns blind eye to shops, hotels eating into public space
Julie Mariappan | TNN
times of india, 21/06/09, chennai edition, page no.4
Chennai: As law enforcement agencies fail to keep an eye on public spaces meant for pedestrians and vehicle users, encroachers thrive along arterial roads. And as corporation officials and police display little enthusiasm to restore public space to citizens, anti-socials, backed by political clout, often take over. Regaining encroached land is not easy, as social activists will tell you.
Take the example of the three permanent sheds that cropped up last week on more than half a ground of land, off the Mambalam canal near Saravana Bhavan in K K Nagar. Until it was uprooted recently, a notice board put up by the Chennai Corporation had announced that the land was owned by it. Today, the boards can be seen near the canal. “It is shocking,” says K Pugazhenthi, an advocate who has complained to the local body about the encroachments.
On the road adjoining the canal there are more than 140 traders selling timber. The traders had earlier encroached on pavements near the ESI Hospital on Anna Main Road. It was only at the behest of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board that they were relocated to the present site. Instead of confining themselves to the earmarked space, they extended their outlets on to the road, further shrinking the narrow road space.
“Traders have been pleading for a permanent site to be allocated by government. We have to wait and see whether the state regularises such encroachments,” says V Gopalakrishnan, a social activist.
On Anna Main Road, eateries have sprung along the roadside. Some shop owners have illegally built concrete structures near Metrowater’s sewage treatment plant in K K Nagar. Hundreds of vehicles use the road to reach Virugambakkam and Porur, but that has not prompted authorities into taking action against offenders. Helping the eatery business thrive is a TASMAC outlet nearby.
The local body has also hardly shown interest in clearing encroachments on government-owned land in Soolaipallam, near the Adyar river. An Anganwadi (No. 784) has been running here for years, but now a portion of it has been encroached on by a neighbour. The remaining open space has been taken up by parked vehicles, huge garbage bins and construction material.
When contacted, authorities said that they would soon initiate action and get rid of encroachments. “We have intimated the local police also,” a senior official said.
BRAZEN VIOLATION: The encroachments next to the Metrowater yard in K K Nagar on Anna Main Road
Julie Mariappan | TNN
times of india, 21/06/09, chennai edition, page no.4
Chennai: As law enforcement agencies fail to keep an eye on public spaces meant for pedestrians and vehicle users, encroachers thrive along arterial roads. And as corporation officials and police display little enthusiasm to restore public space to citizens, anti-socials, backed by political clout, often take over. Regaining encroached land is not easy, as social activists will tell you.
Take the example of the three permanent sheds that cropped up last week on more than half a ground of land, off the Mambalam canal near Saravana Bhavan in K K Nagar. Until it was uprooted recently, a notice board put up by the Chennai Corporation had announced that the land was owned by it. Today, the boards can be seen near the canal. “It is shocking,” says K Pugazhenthi, an advocate who has complained to the local body about the encroachments.
On the road adjoining the canal there are more than 140 traders selling timber. The traders had earlier encroached on pavements near the ESI Hospital on Anna Main Road. It was only at the behest of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board that they were relocated to the present site. Instead of confining themselves to the earmarked space, they extended their outlets on to the road, further shrinking the narrow road space.
“Traders have been pleading for a permanent site to be allocated by government. We have to wait and see whether the state regularises such encroachments,” says V Gopalakrishnan, a social activist.
On Anna Main Road, eateries have sprung along the roadside. Some shop owners have illegally built concrete structures near Metrowater’s sewage treatment plant in K K Nagar. Hundreds of vehicles use the road to reach Virugambakkam and Porur, but that has not prompted authorities into taking action against offenders. Helping the eatery business thrive is a TASMAC outlet nearby.
The local body has also hardly shown interest in clearing encroachments on government-owned land in Soolaipallam, near the Adyar river. An Anganwadi (No. 784) has been running here for years, but now a portion of it has been encroached on by a neighbour. The remaining open space has been taken up by parked vehicles, huge garbage bins and construction material.
When contacted, authorities said that they would soon initiate action and get rid of encroachments. “We have intimated the local police also,” a senior official said.
BRAZEN VIOLATION: The encroachments next to the Metrowater yard in K K Nagar on Anna Main Road
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