Left uses RTI handle to take on govt

The Left leaders are the latest among the growing number of people leveraging the Right to Information Act for political aims. They are using the Act to collect information about official decisions before cornering the government on different issues.

The issue of granting Navratna status to NALCO is a case in point. On September 21, a senior CPI(M) leader shot off an application under the Act to the department of public enterprises, seeking details of the comparative evaluation of NALCO by the government and its management for granting it Navratna status.

He wants to know the reason, "as officially recorded," for not granting the status to NALCO in case it has scored more than 60 on the basis of six parameters set by the government. He wanted to know at what "official level" was the decision not to grant Navratna status to NALCO was taken.

"Let them come out with these details officially and then we will see how to deal with them," he told Business Standard.

A senior leader from the CPI(M)-backed trade union CITU has sought information on tax concessions to Dabhol/Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt Ltd. (RGPPL). The applicant, a former MP, said in his application to the Ministry of Finance that according to information from the Ministry of Power, the government had approved many concessions to the RGPPL, formed after restructuring of the Dabhol Power Corporation (DPC).

The concession, according to him, include mega project status to the facility. He wants details of benefits under the mega power policy that the project has been given, including exemption from Customs duty on capital equipment and Section 801A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for a period of 10 years.

He has also sought information about the waiver of capital gains tax, if any, on transfer of assets from the DPC to the RGPPL and the waiver of 5 per cent Customs duty for five years on import of LNG.

The Left leader wants information about the estimated amount involved in extending these concessions. He said the Left parties would raise the issue with the government once they got the details.

Party sources said the government had been giving general answers to queries from their MPs. For instance, a party MP wanted details of the proposal for granting Navratna status to NALCO. The government steered clear of the trap, replying that the proposal was under consideration. The Left leaders are now hoping for specific answers.