MA&UD denies use of Centre's Warangal Smart City funds

Hyderabad: Denying the allegations of diversion of funds released under the Smart Cities project, Municipal Administration Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar on Wednesday said that cent per cent funds released by the Union government for Warangal were given to it for development.

In a statement released, he said that the Central government launched the Smart City Mission in June 2015 and Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation was included in the list of Smart Cities in May 2016.

Disclosing the details, the Principal Secretary said total funds released by Centre were Rs 196.40 crore and the total amount was transferred to Warangal. The details of funds released to Warangal are as under Rs 2.50 crore in 2016-17, Rs 32 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 161.90 crore in 2020-21 financial years.

Arvind Kumar said that the entire amount has been released to Warangal by the State government and no amount was diverted for any purpose other than the intended one. The number of works taken up was 63, value of works done as on date was Rs 46.67 crore, payments made/funds utilised were Rs 40.67 crore.

The Principal Secretary further said that there were more than sufficient funds available with the Warangal Corporation to meet the expenditure for works up to May, 2021 under the project. While sufficient funds were made available to Warangal, there have been initial delays in undertaking the actual works and issues like land acquisition, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) in the case of major projects. However, with the concerted efforts and close monitoring of the project activities by the State government, the project works have reached the take-off stage as there is visible progress of works at present, he added.

The State government from its own budget had released Rs 109.20 crore under the CM's assurance funds to GWMC for development and Rs 72.87 under the Pattana Pragathi. State government would meet the matching grant under Smart Cities Project once the works are executed and bills readied for the same, he said.