Times of India: Hyderabad: Monday,
07 September 2020.
When it
comes to carrying out developmental work in India’s newest state, MLAs and MLCs
in Telangana have failed to utilise sanctioned funds, reveals an RTI query.
On the
eve of the Assembly’s monsoon session in Hyderabad, RTI queries have revealed
that in the last three financial years, beginning 2017-18, legislators spent
only Rs 276 crore, Rs 240 crore and Rs 163 crore respectively from the Rs 360
crore allotted each year, largely from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)
and the State Development Fund (SDF).
The RTI
application details, in possession of TOI, shows that utilization has come down
by half over the years.
In
2019-20, while MLAs utilised only Rs 163 crore, MLCs used Rs 37 crore out of Rs
120 crore.
After
the state was formed, in 2014-15 of the Rs 180 crore meant for MLAs, Rs 147
crore was utilised. In the same year, MLCs spent Rs 27 crore of Rs 27 crore
released.
MLC:
Contractors shying away from taking up SDF work
Each
elected representative from the state is given ₹3 crore in a year. Instead of
giving the funds for roads and other things, the focus should be on removing
manual scavenging work,” said RTI activist Jalagam Sudheer.
While
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Bhatti Vikramarka said there was
considerable delay in confirming work proposed by the elected representatives.
“In many
cases, once the work is proposed, it is taking a lot of time before it gets
initiated. The state government has not released any fund this year so far. But
they have mentioned in the 2020-21 budget document that each assembly segments
will get ₹3 crore minimum,” he said.
BJP MLC
and floor leader in the council, N Ramachandra Rao said that payment delay was
one of the main reason for under-utilisation. “I have utilised all funds, but
for many projects the contact payment has not been made in time or not made.
Many contractors are even shying away from taking up SDF work,” he pointed out.
When
contacted, government whip T Bhanu Prasad Rao said there was actually a rush of
developmental work.
“MLAs
want the works to be taken up and sometimes there could be a delay in the
estimation given by the elected representatives and department. In such cases,
the work remains pending,” he added.
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