The A’chik Organisation for Social Welfare (AOSW) has expressed concern over “contradictory” answers it received to Right to Information (RTI) requests made concerning the status of the Centre of Excellence for Citrus at Dawagre, East Garo Hills.
The pressure group had queried in one RTI why “polyhouse” structures had been dismantled at the project site and had been told that they were removed to make way for further development of the citrus centre.
However, another RTI filed with the Horticulture Department informed that “Due to technical issues, the project is yet to be approved by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.”
To this, AOSW general secretary Premiar Sangma questioned how earthworks could be undertaken if the project has not been approved yet. “If the project had not been approved then the earthworks would not have been initiated,” Sangma stated. He also accused the State Information Commission of not living up to its responsibilities in enforcing the RTI Act.
