KIADB flayed at RTI grievance meet for failing to provide information

KIADB flayed at RTI grievance meet for failing to provide information

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, August 4, 2011: State Chief Information Commissioner Dr. H. N. Krishna has ordered the Karnataka Industrial Development Board (KIADB) to return submissions for claims made by the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), including those that claim that MSEZ is not established or constituted either by laws made by parliament or the state legislature or any notification issued or made by the government. He was participating in an RTI session held to voice complaints related to the Right to Information Act at the DC’s office on Thursday.

 

 

He also stated that KIADB, which has a 23 percent interest in MSEZ, bears the responsibility of rehabilitating all the people displaced by the project and of ensuring that the special package reaches all the affected people.

He also instructed the KIADB to submit files on how it had acquired land for a company that does not come under any law in the country, adding that the KIADB had acquired over 3,830 acres of land for the MSEZ.

The KIADB bore the brunt of Dr. Krishna’s wrath as two more complaints were lodged against it for its failure to answer the questions of project displaced people such as Bharath Gowda and Hemavathi. Most of the grievances were related to delays on the part of KIADB authorities to respond to applicants’ queries. Bharath Gowda had to wait for nearly 256 days to get a response from the KIADB, and even then, he was presented wrong information. Mr. Gowda’s land was acquired for MSEZ nearly 3 years back and a small compensation of Rs. 22,000 was given to him.

Dr. Krishna also questioned the principal of Seetha Raghava Pre University College in Pernaje for failing to provide required information regarding the appointment of a history lecturer. He said that action will be taken against the college and any grants provided to the college will be stopped if the information is not provided.

Fourteen of the 21 cases lodged by citizens were disposed, and the other seven were absent.