Eatala demands release of funds to panchyats

PNS|Karimnagar

BJP MLA Eatala Rajender on Friday demanded that the State government release funds to panchayats immediately.

Speaking at a media conference here, Rajender said that the Centre had released grants as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. The State government should release matching grants to the Central funds. But, the State government failed to submit an ‘utilisation certificate’ in time and it led to the Centre not releasing the grant. It led to sarpanches protesting against the State government depriving their panchayats of funds, he said.

The State government has not been submitting bills for the works already executed. The sarpanch post had been reduced to the status of ‘village assistant,’ he felt. The State government should be held responsible for the sufferings of the sarpanches.

The State government had failed on all fronts. The powers that be claimed that Telangana was a rich State. But it failed to pay salaries in time, he said.