Pune: Officials and staff at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are increasingly distressed by a surge in complaints and the misuse of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
These tactics, often involving false accusations and demands for money, have left many officials feeling harassed, with some influential politicians allegedly fueling these activities to blackmail officials.
The PMC annually issues tenders worth thousands of crores, and in recent months, there has been a notable rise in the use of RTI requests to identify flaws in these tenders, leading to complaints and subsequent demands for bribes.
This trend has become particularly pronounced during the administrator’s period, with various organizations frequently submitting such applications. In many cases, the complaints seem to be driven more by personal interests than by any genuine concern for public welfare.
The construction department, in particular, has been plagued by extortion linked to complaints about illegal constructions. Other departments, including Building, Water Supply, Sewerage, Roads, Solid Waste Management, and Projects, have also experienced increased harassment over tenders.
Moreover, there is a growing trend of political influence being used to secure contracts for favored contractors, leading to significant money collection. A racket has also emerged where false online complaints are made against officials, followed by demands for money under the threat of complaints being lodged with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The situation escalated on Thursday (22nd August) when former corporator Rajashree Kale, frustrated by the continuous harassment, assaulted an RTI activist and a political worker with a slipper at the municipal office. This incident has sparked conversations among PMC officials and staff about the increasing pressure they face from activists.
Umesh Naik, President of the High Light Forum, has called for action, stating that while legitimate complaints and RTI requests should be respected, the PMC is now being targeted by gangs that blackmail officials. Naik mentioned that he had already filed a written complaint with Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale regarding these issues.
Commissioner Bhosale clarified that information under the RTI Act is only provided if a decision has been made. He emphasized that the authority to halt any official’s work or process due to complaints lies solely with the Commissioner.