Info boards on all MLA funds far from ready

With only 20-odd boards installed so far, the Delhi government has missed yet another deadline for displaying information on works taken up under the MLA local area development (LAD) funds. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

With only 20-odd boards installed so far, the Delhi government has missed yet another deadline for displaying information on works taken up under the MLA local area development (LAD) funds.

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The government said it will need at least six weeks for the job to be completed.

SKS Yadav, additional secretary, UD department, said, "First we did not have all the information. Now that it has started trickling in, we face this problem of proper translation in Hindi. It would take at least six weeks to finish the job."

Along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi government was directed by the Central Information Commission to install boards in each ward/assembly constituency informing people as to how and on what money under the MLA funds were spent.

While the civic body had claimed it has installed boards in all its 272 wards, Delhi government has been constantly demanding more time since the order in February.

Information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said, "I am following it up regularly. They (Delhi government officers) tell me that they are on the job. Don't know what is taking them so long."

Earlier, the government had chosen circle offices of food supplies department for display boards but then felt it would be too small. Now, it has zeroed in on major hospitals for the boards to be displayed. GTB Hospital, for instance, will display boards for four MLAs.

Meanwhile, activists of Satark Nagarik Sanghathan said they have actually checked 100 boards listing how MCD councillors spent their funds.

"However, not all the boards are in order. Many of them just mention the total amount but no details," said Bhardwaj.