Kishan Reddy expresses happiness over central grants to panchayats

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has expressed happiness over the Central Government's release of funds to Gram Panchayats in Telangana, describing it as a significant boost to rural development. As part of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the Centre has released Rs 619.85 crore as the first instalment for the financial year 2025-26 for Telangana's Gram Panchayats.

Of the Rs 619.85 crore released, Rs 371.91 crore has been allocated as tied grants and Rs 247.94 crore as untied grants. The tied grants can be utilized for infrastructure works such as construction of roads, sanitation facilities, drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages and rainwater harvesting. The untied grants, on the other hand, provide flexibility to Gram Panchayats to take up development works based on local needs.

The Centre has allocated a total of Rs 14,110 crore during the periods of the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions combined (2015-16 to 2025-26) out of which it already released Rs 11,111 crore by January 2026. Looking ahead, under the 16th Finance Commission, Telangana's Gram Panchayats are expected to receive Rs 9,968 crore in grants from the Centre during the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.