RTI query on swimming pools exposes GDA apathy to water

An RTI query revealed that the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) maintained no data or record on swimming pools operating in its zone. When asked about the purpose behind the inquiry, Vikrant Sharma, a resident of Raj Nagar Extension who had filed the RTI query, said he wanted to know how much water is wasted by the rich for their leisurely indulgences. 

Elaborating his reply, he narrated,“A month ago, I attended a morning assembly in a government school where an official from Jal Shakti Ministry made an appeal to the students to conserve water. Lectures on water conservation were given to the students who can barely afford water, leave alone wasting it."

The incident, he says inspired him to inquire about the amount of water wasted by the rich living in high rises. “These are the people who need lectures on water conservation,” he asserted concluding, “Hence the RTI query.”. 

Sharma had filed the query under the RTI Act on September 24 seeking information from the authority about the number of swimming pools operating under its jurisdiction. He also inquired whether the GDA has any policy regarding their operation. The response he recieved on Friday was an eyeopener for all the concerned citizens. The GDA denied having any data related to the swimming pools.

This is not the first time that the GDA has given such an absurd response. A few months ago, it had given a similar response to an RTI inquery filed by Sharma. He had sought information on green cover, details of the rules regarding plantation of trees having an ability to grow and penalty if the rules were not followed.