Andhra Pradesh: Pawan vows to probe diversion of central panchayat funds

Vijjayawada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has assured to take up an inquiry into diversion of 14th and 15th Finance Commission grants worth ₹9,000 crore released for gram panchayats. He said panchayat raj institutions are yet to receive ₹998 crore released by the Centre as Finance Commission grants, which should have reached the gram panchayats by March. The Deputy CM disclosed that Central officials have noticed diversion of ₹2,165 crore gram panchayat funds to Discoms without the permission from the gram panchayats, which the officials have called a grave violation. These include: Diversion of Central Finance Commission funds by the AP finance department to pay electricity charges of PR institutions in violation of norms, gram panchayats lacking proper electric meters, flawed calculation of electricity charges in demand notices, improper book-keeping and record management in gram panchayats, gram panchayats not getting funds under the State Finance Commission, which must be constituted as a necessary condition for release of 15th Finance Commission grants to local bodies from 2024-25, and states which fail to constitute their State Finance Commission would not get grants from the Centre.