(a) the funds recommended by the last three Finance Commissions to
Maharashtra for the Panchayati Raj Institutions;
(b) the funds released by the Union Government to Maharashtra for the
purpose so far;
(c) whether the entire amount has not been released to Maharashtra;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Union Government are likely to release the remaining
amount; and
(f) if so, when and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ANANDRAO V. ADSUL)
Parts (a) to (f): The Local Bodies Grants were recommended for the first
time by the Tenth Finance Commission for States. The Commission had
recommended an amount of Rs. 347.01 crore to the State of Maharashtra
for Panchayati Raj Institutions for the period 1996-2000. During this
period, an amount of Rs. 216.88 crore was released. The balance amount
could not be released to the State Government due to non-fulfillment of
the conditionalities prescribed in the guidelines. The entitlement to
unutilized grants recommended by Finance Commission lapse after its award
period gets over.
The Eleventh Finance Commission has recommended an amount of Rs.
656.73 crore as grant to the State of Maharashtra for Panchayati Raj
Institutions for its award period 2000-05. So far Rs. 328.36 crore has
been released to the State Government. The balance amount will be
released according to the guidelines issued to State Governments in
this regard.