Govt may bring PPP projects under RTI

The government is considering bringing under the ambit of the RTI Act public-private-partnership projects. The Central Information Commission has been asking the government to bring PPP agreements under the RTI as public money is involved and it has written to the Planning Commission earlier in this connection.

Minister of State for Personnel,Public Grievances amp; Pensions V Narayanasamy said that inclusion of PPP projects under the RTI is being considered. A thinking is going on to include this PPP in RTI, he said here on Thursday,without giving more details.

A public authority,as defined under Section 2h of the RTI Act includes a non-governmental body only if it is substantially financed by the Centre. The CIC had contended that since the government provided substantial resources for PPP projects,the PPP entity should be deemed as a public authority and hence,be made accountable under the Act.