Finance panel yet to be formed in Telangana

​Hyderabad: Several people’s representatives have alleged that in the absence of the State Finance Commission the Central funds are being denied to Telangana. They express unhappiness over the non-constitution of the Finance Commission even two and a half years after the pink party assumed office.

The government had issued a G.O. on March 16, 2015 to set up the commission but it did not materalise. Though the names of several experts with experience in Panchayat Raj (PR) were recommended by the department to the government, the file was promptly returned.

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Highlights:

• Local bodies face fund crunch in the absence of State Finance Commission
• Govt issued GO on March 16, 2015 to set up commission but it did not materialise
• Names of several experts in Panchayat Raj recommended but govt returned the file
• Experts & Opposition leaders question why panel has not been set up

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In the absence of the commission 68 municipalities, six corporations, 8,695 gram panchayats and 438 mandal parishads in the State have been facing hardship to take care of finances.

“In the absence of the Finance Commission, with a five-year term, we have to depend at the mercy of big shots in the government and officials for meeting our fund requirements, Sarpanches Yedama Indira, Palla Upender and Anjani Prasad told The Hans India.

They alleged that injustice was being done to them in the absence of the finance panel, constitution of which is a must under Article 243A of the Constitution. The sarpanches accused the government of cutting funds to which they have a right. If the Finance Commission was constituted it could have specified their share of funds.

Experts and leaders of the Opposition have concurred with this view, even while questioning as to why it has not been set up in the new State, although the law makes it clear that it should be.

Former MP Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy, who has vast experience in Panchayat Raj set-up, told THI that constitution of the Finance Commission was compulsory for transparency in transfer and release of funds by the State. He demands that a commission on the lines of panels working in Kerala and Karnataka be established in the State.

Congress spokesman Addanki Dayakar accused the State of deliberately delaying setting up of Finance Commission. He informed THI that the government was bypassing the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution for ‘diverting the public money’ even while wondering as to why the Centre was not questioning the State for its unilateral stand on the issue.

Srinivas, Hyderabad CPI (M) secretary, raised the issue of injustice being to local bodies with regard to funds and alleged their diversion by the State. His recent RTI application elicited a reply that the government has not released Rs.1,400 crore dues to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

He wants the State Finance Commission, which serves the interests of the local bodies, to be immediately set up.