TWO WEEKS ago the much-hyped website of Allahabad Nagar Nigam (ANN) was launched with a fanfare but surprisingly many of its links are not functioning till date.
Notably, the ANN has become the first civic body in the State which launched its website in order to make the governance and administration people-friendly and service-oriented in the country.
The website www.allahabadnagarnigam.in was inaugurated by the Divisional Commissioner Dr Lalit Verma at a function organised by Nagar Nigam in the auditorium of National Academy of Sciences here on July 10. Speaking on the occasion Dr Verma had said that the website was necessary to make up-to-date information available to citizens on time. The NN claim that on-line grievance redressal system has been provided in the site but this special facility is lying dysfunctional till date. The NN administration had created this facility allowing citizens to bring their problems to the immediate notice of the Nigam officials from home or any of the internet cafes at the click of the mouse. This system is distinguished by its ability to sort out the complaints amongst the departments and officials and allow for status updates to be made available on internet promptly.
Besides, the NN has not brought the details of house tax of all wards on line till date to ensure maximum transparency. The website has covered only 40 out of 70 wards but details of tax assessment, arrears, late fee etc in many cases in these wards were yet to be brought on-line. Similarly, NN's special focus on the Constitutional Right to Information, it had claimed to implement on-line methods for providing information sought by citizens under the Right to Information Act. However, this facility is yet to be made functional.
{{/usCountry}}Besides, the NN has not brought the details of house tax of all wards on line till date to ensure maximum transparency. The website has covered only 40 out of 70 wards but details of tax assessment, arrears, late fee etc in many cases in these wards were yet to be brought on-line. Similarly, NN's special focus on the Constitutional Right to Information, it had claimed to implement on-line methods for providing information sought by citizens under the Right to Information Act. However, this facility is yet to be made functional.
{{/usCountry}}Several innovative steps like introduction of Information Technology, 'City Development Plan' and several other projects have been included as part of the public involvement. However, no project especially 'City Development Plan' has been incorporated on the site.
Categories like helpdesks, citizens' charter, ask for information, your grievance etc. are not yet working.
It may be mentioned that the NN Administrator and District Magistrate Amrit Abhijat who took keen interest in developing the NN website had said that ANN would continue to add many other important on-line facilities like birth and death registration, trade licences etc. in later phases in the next few months..