State govt. diverting 15th Finance Commission funds: Bandi Sanjay

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay on Friday alleged that the Telangana government was diverting the 15th Finance Commission funds meant for development works to pay electricity bills and staff salaries.

Calling it a ‘violation’ of the norms, he alleged that village sarpanches were being pressured over the issue.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 1.32-crore Kargil Lake restoration works under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme in Sircilla, Mr. Sanjay said that he would take up the matter with the Central government if the practice continued. “If necessary, the Finance Commission grants will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of gram panchayats,” he said.

He said the Centre had sanctioned ₹1,660 crore under AMRUT 1.0 and ₹3,429 crore under AMRUT 2.0 to Telangana. Of the ₹400 crore allocated to the Karimnagar Parliamentary constituency under the scheme, ₹105.57 crore has been earmarked for development works in Sircilla Municipality.

Later, he inaugurated the new Gram Panchayat building at Ponnalapalli village in Gambhiraopet mandal.