A view of the Telangana Legislative Assembly premises. File | Photo Courtesy: Nagara Gopal
Clearance of bills pending in gram panchayats, mandals and zila parishads on Monday (December 16, 2024) Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) member T. along with Harish Rao rocked the Telangana Legislative Assembly and alleged that the government had released dues to “big contractors” and related. The sarpanch, who is in dire straits due to lack of finances, has been neglected.
The second day of the Third Legislature Parliament, which was adjourned on the previous Monday (December 9, 2024), resumed from Monday.
There was a heated debate between the treasurer and the opposition bench regarding the issue raised during the question and answer session in the House. The main opposition party BRS staged a walkout accusing the government of delay in providing funds to the Gram Panchayat even after a year of assuming office.
The controversy started when Panchayat Raj Minister Dansari Anasuya alias Seethakka claimed that a total of Rs 691.93 crore was due to be paid to the sarpanchs of the state till November this year. The government is taking initiatives to pay the amount soon.
₹1,200 crore cleared to major contenders: Harish Rao
Mr. Rao alleged that the government was apathetic even when the sarpanches called for protest against the delay in disbursement of funds. At the same time, the government has handed over arrears of 1200 crore rupees to the starving big contractors of the local bodies who are not even paid monthly wages by the people’s representatives.
Apart from this, the government had withdrawn funds under the Employment Guarantee Scheme, XV Finance Commission grants and other sources which put the Sarpanchs in dire straits. He claimed that the previous BRS government released ₹ 275 crore every month to the Gram Panchayats under the Palle Pragati Yojana so that there was no hindrance in the works they had started. The Congress government has not provided any funds to the local bodies by allocating Palle Pragathi.
Sarpanch’s tenure ended in February: Minister
Ms Seethakka said the tenure of the sarpanchs ended in February and the pending bills were a legacy of the Congress government from the previous BRS regime. “Bills are pending since 2014. The government is committed to pay the arrears but sought some time due to the state’s financial situation,” she said, describing the BRS government as an arrears (arrears) nation committee that has crippled the state’s finances. .
Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu scoffed at Mr Rao’s claim of releasing Rs 275 crore to Gram Panchayats every month. “If the previous government disbursed funds on time, why are there so many arrears?” The father asked.
The government has planned to build 10,000 km of roads. 12,000 crore in five years
Responding to another question on the condition of roads, the Panchayat Raj Minister said the government plans to develop 10,000 km of road network in the next five years by spending Rs 12,000 crore. Out of which 2 thousand 400 km of road was planned for the current year for Rs 2 thousand 311 crore. The work of some roads has already started, while the tender process for others is underway.
published – December 16, 2024 at 02:44 pm IST