SCB ex-VP flags severe fund crunch, seeks aid

Former Secunderabad Cantonment Board vice president Jampana Pratap urged immediate financial support for the board during a meeting with Southern Command officials, citing halted Union service charges and diverted property tax revenues that have severely affected civic services, infrastructure maintenance, and development activities 

Hyderabad: Facing severe financial distress, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) required immediate intervention, said SCB ex-vice president Jampana Pratap.

On Saturday, Jampana met the Principal Director, Southern Command, C Ravindra who visited the Cantonment Board to discuss certain long pending official matters, with SCB Chief Executive Officer Arvind Kumar Dwivedi.

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“Since the change of government at the centre in 2014, major revenue sources of the Cantonment Board have been adversely affected. The service charges from the union government have stopped, creating a substantial financial gap. At the same time, the Telangana government started crediting the ‘Transfer of Property Tax’ (TPT) amounts directly into the State Treasury, resulting in the Board losing another significant annual income source,” Jampana Pratap stated in a representation.

As a result, the Board was unable to undertake new developmental projects, maintain existing infrastructure adequately, or discharge its day-to-day civic responsibilities, severely impacting residents of the cantonment area, he said.

“Restore the legitimate revenue sources of the SCB or provide adequate financial support or grants so that the Board could function effectively and ensure proper civic administration and development in the cantonment area,” urged Pratap.