A view of the Telangana Legislative Assembly premises. File
The Telangana Legislative Assembly witnessed intense discussions on December 16, 2024, as the clearance of pending bills to Gram Panchayats, Mandal, and Zilla Parishads took center stage. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) member T. Harish Rao criticized the Government for prioritizing the release of dues to large contractors while neglecting the financial crises faced by sarpanches across the state.
This marked the second day of the third Legislative Assembly session, which resumed after being adjourned on December 9, 2024.
Heated exchanges erupted between the Treasury and Opposition Benches during the Question Hour, leading to the main Opposition BRS walking out in protest against the government’s delay in releasing funds to gram panchayats since assuming office.
Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari Anasuya, also known as Seethakka, stated that ₹691.93 crore was owed to sarpanches up until November and assured that steps would be taken to settle these amounts promptly.
₹1,200 crore to Contractors Cleared, Allegations Raised
Mr. Rao stated that, despite calls for protests from sarpanches regarding fund delays, the government had swiftly cleared ₹1,200 crore for large contractors, exacerbating the funding struggles faced by local bodies. He emphasized that representatives were going unpaid, highlighting a major disconnect between government actions and grassroots needs.
Furthermore, Rao pointed to the diversion of funds from employment guarantee schemes and XV Finance Commission grants, intensifying the hardship experienced by sarpanches. He contrasted this with the previous government’s operations, which allocated ₹275 crore monthly to gram panchayats under the Palle Pragati scheme to ensure seamless project execution.
Minister Addresses Sarpanch Tenure and Financial Legacy
Minister Seethakka explained that the sarpanches’ terms had expired in February and that the outstanding bills were a remnant of the previous BRS administration. She accused the Congress Government of complicating the fiscal landscape, claiming, “There are bills pending since 2014. Our commitment to clearing dues remains, but we seek time due to the current financial condition of the state,” branding the previous BRS period as Bakayila (dues) Rashtra Samiti.
Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu questioned Rao’s assertions regarding timely fund releases, challenging the credibility of claims made about the previous government’s fiscal management.
Government to Invest ₹12,000 Crore in Road Development
In response to queries about infrastructure, the Panchayat Raj Minister announced plans to develop a 10,000 km road network with an investment of ₹12,000 crore over the next five years. For the current year, ₹2,311 crore has been earmarked for the construction of 2,400 km of roads, with some projects already underway and others pending in the tendering process.
Published – December 16, 2024 02:44 pm IST
