Why do municipal bodies in India struggle to secure predictable funding?

I’m trying to understand why city governments can be responsible for local roads, drainage and waste collection yet still depend so heavily on grants from state or central governments. What role do State Finance Commissions play in deciding how money reaches municipalities, and why do their recommendations seem to have such uneven influence?

I’d be interested in examples from different states, especially where the funding arrangements have either improved local accountability or left elected city councils with little room to plan beyond the next budget year.