State eyes spike in Central fund flow

Hyderabad: The State government initiated works to acquire more funds under 15th Finance Commission this year by projecting growth as well as its backwardness. As the Finance Commission is scheduled to visit the States from April, Chief Secretary S P Singh on Monday instructed the Secretaries of various departments to finalise reports that will be submitted to the commission.

Singh held a day-long meeting with all the Secretaries to review the progress of budget proposals for the ensuing 2018-19 financial year. He also discussed ways to get more funds from the Centre. The official asked the Municipal Administration, Panchayat Raj, Energy, Health, Industries and Engineering wings to prepare detailed reports on the works taken up, targets set by each department and requirement of funds to achieve the desired results. He set February 7 as the deadline for all the departments to submit the reports.

State Advisor (Economic Affairs) G R Reddy said the Finance Commission had introduced incentive based grants to the State from this year. Telangana will get more funds under Finance Commission as it achieved goals in family planning, digital payments and utilisation of central funds.

He also asserted to explain the backwardness of Telangana to the commission to get additional funds in the area of irrigation and per capita income which was more than national average in only Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak districts. Grants to local bodies, tax revaluation, district-wise development goals and strategy development goals will be included in the reports.