Delayed UCs hold up Central funds to Telangana

Delays in submitting Utilisation Certificates have held up Central funds to Telangana, adding to the State’s financial stress. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju has directed departments to resolve pending issues, complete formalities and coordinate with Central authorities to expedite fund releases.

Hyderabad: Delays by State government departments in submitting Utilisation Certificates (UCs) have held up the release of funds to Telangana under various Central grants and schemes.

State governments must submit UCs to the Centre to secure funds under various grants and schemes. The certificates are a requirement for the release of grants and funds. However, Telangana has been slow in submitting the certificates needed to secure funds from the Centre. With the State’s non-tax revenue generation falling short of expectations, the delay in securing Central funds is adding to its financial stress.

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The State government had expected to receive more than Rs 24,000 crore from the Centre during the current financial year. However, it has secured only Rs 4,000 crore so far. The shortfall has severely affected the execution of development projects, particularly infrastructure works. For some Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the State must also release its matching share in advance to qualify for Central funds. However, Telangana’s financial constraints have delayed the release of matching grants under several programmes.

Against this backdrop, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju directed all departmental Secretaries to give the highest priority to securing funds due to the State under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). He called for immediate, coordinated and time-bound measures to expedite their release from the Central government.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for departments to act swiftly to secure eligible Central assistance without delay. He directed departmental Secretaries to identify and resolve pending issues, complete the required formalities and improve coordination between departments to ensure the timely release and utilisation of funds.

The review covered Agriculture, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Education and Scholarships, Home, Rural Water Supply, Housing, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Transport, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and other departments. Jaju reviewed the department-wise status of Central funds due to the State, pending onboarding and compliance requirements, expenditure reporting and the closure of SNA accounts.

“All pending matters should be pursued on a priority basis, with clear responsibility for follow-up and timely completion of the prescribed procedures,” Sanjay Jaju said.

The Chief Secretary also directed departmental Secretaries to coordinate with the concerned Additional Secretaries in the Central government and take up pending matters with the appropriate authorities to expedite the release of funds. Emphasising the importance of Central assistance in implementing development and welfare programmes, Jaju directed all departments to ensure that avoidable delays did not arise from pending procedural requirements, incomplete documentation or poor coordination.