Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao accused the Congress-led Government in Telangana of neglecting both Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies resulting to a severe crisis in both.
In this statement KTR made on Wednesday (14th August 2024), he referred to administration in Gram Panchayats and the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) nearly collapsed due to mismanagement. He said that because villages did not clean their environment properly, there was a rise in health problems. The absence of basic public health provisions such as sanitation, drainage system, mosquito control etcetera has led to an increase of diseases like dengue fever and malaria thereby spreading agony all over.
KTR also pointed out that by failing to release crucial resources to Gram Panchayats, the government had contributed immensely towards creating serious financial crises. In addition, he raised questions about the state’s handling of finances for gram panchayats saying it has left bills for works done for more than eight months unpaid leaving several ex sarpanches with debts as well as no future whatsoever.
Also highlighted by KTR was alleged poor financial management of municipal corporations and municipalities. He posed what are the plans from government regarding outstanding liabilities amounting to ₹1,200 crore on account of unfinished work in municipalities and decayed infrastructure like roads full of pot holes or drainage overflowing with water.
The Sircilla BRS MLA also asked when will ₹500 crores allocated for gram panchayats by the 15th Finance Commission be disbursed? Would you please tell me why did you divert ₹2,100 worth central funding from programs like Employment Guarantee Scheme and Health Mission? Can you account for ₹4,305 crores accumulated electricity dues owed by 12,769 panchayats?
The former minister expressed anxiety about reputedly dire conditions in Greater Hyderabad and other municipal corporations, saying that municipal workers have not even been paid whilst the employers are crying over inadequate budgetary allocations. He added that unless their arrears are discharged by 15th August, there will be agitations by municipals’ contractors. KTR wanted to know from Congress government why villages and towns which thrived under BRS for a decade are facing crises now.
