Doles to cost `1,304cr, TS mulls options on payout

The state government is considering three options for extending assistance to the poor, who are suffering following a lockdown in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has announced that apart from supplying rice to the poor, the government will give cash assistance of `1,500 per family for purchasing other food items. This one-time economic package is projected to benefit 85.4 per cent of the total households.

It is estimated that this will cost the state exchequer `1,304 crore.

The finance department is considering three options for extending the cash relief. One is direct distribution of money, second is handing over cheques and the third is making an online transfer.

A final decision on this will be taken by the CM. If the money is to be distributed directly, officials will have to visit villages. This may lead to large gatherings, defeating the very purpose of lockdown. If the government distributes cheques, people will throng banks to withdraw money. That will also lead to crowding.

Officials are of the opinion that given the circumstances online transfer is the best option.

The Covid-19 crisis has hit Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) very badly, particularly in monetary terms.

Officials claimed that deployment of tax inspectors to the corona special teams has adversely impacted their current month property tax collection. Till now the corporation has only collected

`67.56 crore and were falling short by about

`400 crore to reach the current year's annual property tax target of

`1,800 crore.

As against the monthly requirement of `110 crore towards salaries, the corporation, presently, has a mere

`60 crore in its kitty, according to sources. They claimed that the state government would not be held responsible as payment of salaries to its employees has to be from the GHMC’s own treasury.

According to highly placed sources, even as the corporation is falling short by `50 crore pertaining to salaries, things might worsen if the lockdown continues for the first