Hyderabad: Union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has sought a comprehensive inquiry into the utilisation of 15th Finance Commission grants in Telangana, alleging that sarpanches were being pressured to spend the funds in violation of the Centre’s guidelines.In separate letters to Union panchayati raj minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and state panchayati raj minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), Sanjay claimed he had received complaints from several sarpanches alleging irregularities in the utilisation of Finance Commission grants. He said he had also enclosed documents relating to the alleged violations.The latest representation comes days after the Telangana panchayati raj commissioner rejected Sanjay’s earlier allegations and maintained that there was no deviation in the utilisation of the funds.Referring to the commissioner’s clarification, Sanjay said fresh complaints and documents submitted by sarpanches raised serious doubts over the utilisation of the grants and warranted an impartial inquiry.He alleged that officials were exerting pressure on village panchayats to divert the funds for purposes not permitted under the Finance Commission guidelines, affecting the financial autonomy of gram panchayats.Stating that the panchayati raj system forms the foundation of rural democracy, Sanjay said any violation of norms governing the utilisation of Finance Commission grants could adversely affect village development. He urged both the Centre and the state to order a detailed and impartial investigation into the allegations.
