TS getting ready for Finance panel’s visit

​Hyderabad: Telangana state government is all set to confront the new 15th Finance Commission on the injustice meted out to the state in the allocation of funds at its first meeting organised by the Commission in February third week in Hyderabad. The five-member Commission headed by its Chairman NK Singh will embark on a three-day visit from February 15 in Telangana.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and state Finance department officials will make a detailed presentation on the state’s fiscal management and the increasing requirement of funds to complete the developmental programmes at the meeting. 

The Commission will hold daylong meeting with the state government in the first two days of the visit and on the last day the commission will conduct a field visit to Kaleshwaram irrigation project and see the Mission Bhagiratha works. KCR has been expressing serious concern on the ‘unilateral’ approach adopted by the Union Government and also Finance Commission towards the states in the devolution of funds and addressing the economic issues.

In a recent meeting with the state’s top officials, KCR said, “the Finance Commission visits states with pre-conceived notions. They come with ideas like ToR (Terms of References) which in fact should be done after they complete their visit, discuss with state governments and take their views. 

Its better if the Finance Commission becomes a policy formulating body. Devolution is the right of the states. A lot of diversity is there with reference to states’ requirements.”
He instructed the Finance department to prepare a memorandum highlighting the requirements of the state.

He also asserted disincentivising growing states will create hurdles to achieve the targets set by the state government. Officials said that the chief minister will personally explain the commission members the challenges facing the newly-formed Telangana state in achieving the targets set mainly the completion of the irrigation projects and the drinking water scheme Mission Bhagiratha. 

The improvement of infrastructure mainly road network, education and health facilities in the rural Telangana and the required of the funds will also take centre stage in the meeting between the Telangana state and finance commission.

State Chief Secretary SK Joshi, Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and State Advisor (Finance) GR Reddy were entrusted the responsibility of the preparation of a detailed note on the state’s specific demands mainly the requirement of funds for the mega projects.