Allocate 40 per cent of state budget to local bodies: TPA

Vijayawada: Members of the Tax Payers Association (TPA) appealed to the Finance Commission to allocate 40 per cent of the state budget to the local bodies. A memorandum in this regard was handed over to the commission chairman by the TPA members on Friday.

Addressing the media, TPA secretary MV Anjaneyulu said that they have specified a few important points which should be taken into consideration while framing the Finance Commission report. The TPA found fault with the state government for suggesting the Finance Commission on term of reference with respect to drinking water system, sanitation, user charges on commercial basis on streetlights and on percentage of tax increase.

Anjaneyulu said that in most of the rural areas in the state women have to go far places to get drinking water and in urban areas water supplied once in three days. The TPA faulted the government for doing business with the available water leaving the people to their fate.

He further said that they have suggested the Finance Commission in their memorandum not to treat essentials in terms of business or privatisation, which includes drinking water, sanitation, and streetlights.