All of you might be aware
that when the controversy around
Mahanadi water dispute
cropped in the state following allegation of State Govt about
over-exploitation of water of River Mahanadi by Chhatishgarh Govt. and its adverse impact on Odisha, Mr. A.P.Padhi, Chief Secretary conducted a
press conference accusing Central Govt. and Chhattisgarh Govt. responsible for Mahanadi water dispute. The political parties strongly reacted
against his statement and said that this was violation of ALL India Service
Conduct Rules.
The question comes to my mind
to know how the decision was taken by Govt.
to authorise Sri Padhi to give
such statement on Maghanadi Water dispute.
It is obvious to support argument of a section of the people that
concerned Minister for Water Resource is the best one to give public statement
on the issues concerning his/ her Dept. So Sri Nabin Patnaik, Chief Minister
who has been holding this high profile Department for last 16 years is the best
man to speak or give a public statement on the issues centring around Mahanadi.
As Sri Patnaik lacks minimum knowledge about Mahanadi issue, he tried his best to
avoid media, preferred to remain mum and
engaged Chief Secretary, rather than
a senior Minister to speak on his behalf
on this issue.
To understand the administrative exercise in State bureaucracy, RTI Application dated
17.8.16 was filed to the PIO, Dept. of
General Administration, Govt. of Odisha
seeking the information about (a) copy of the Statement of Chief Secretary on
Mahanadi river dispute which was circulated to media, (b) details of decision taken at Govt. level
authorizing Chief Secretary to give the statement on Mahanadi River dispute,
(c) Has the Chief Minister instructed to Chief Secretary to give such statement
and whether the instruction was orally or written.
My
RTI Application was forwarded to Dept. of Water Resources to supply the
information. On 12.9.16, in response to
RTI Application, the PIO has said that the said information is not
available with the Dept. and denied to
provide the information.
It
means the Govt. kept secret of the said information
apprehending that it would expose their true character and nefarious practice. This is not a single case. The State Govt. has started an exercise
not to disclose many
information under RTI in order to protect their corrupt practice and keep the people of
Odisha in dark about their
illegalities and cheating in name of transparent Govt. which is sheer deception.
Pradip
Pradhan
Date 16.9.16
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