Mohali fails in optimum utilisation of MPLAD scheme funds

The figures released before the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee,which met under the chairmanship of Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib Ravneet Singh Bittoo here Monday,exposed the “indifference” and “negligence” of the officials concerned in the utilisation of the funds meant for the public welfare.

Incidentally,all the six MPs – Bittoo,Preneet Kaur (Patiala),Ambika Soni,Varinder Singh Bajwa,Dharam Pal Sabharwal and Manohar Singh Gill (all from Rajya Sabha) – belonged to the Congress party,which made the leaders of the main opposition party in Punjab accuse the bureaucracy of “biased” approach under the “influence” of ruling SAD-BJP combine.

While Soni topped the list with the release of Rs 180.81 lakh funds,Preneet followed with release of Rs 106.5 lakh,Bittoo Rs 89.85 lakh,Sabharwal Rs 10 lakh,Gill Rs 6 lakh and Bajwa Rs 1.5 lakh.

As per the official figures,maximum 88.1 per cent utilisation has been made from Sabharwal’s funds while the minimum of 58.33 per cent utilisation has been made from Gill’s funds. In other cases,the district administration claims utilising 79.12 per cent funds released by Bittoo,77 per cent by Soni,76.28 per cent by Preneet and 75 per cent by Bajwa.

But contrary to the official claims,the utilisation certificates have been issued for mere 7.51 per cent grants released by Bittoo,24.1 per cent by Sabharwal,41.48 per cent by Soni and 50 per cent by Preneet. Rest,no utilisation certificate has been issued as yet for even a single penny used from the grants released by Bajwa and Gill.

While Bittoo asked the district administration to ensure optimum utilisation of MPLADS funds,Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam,who assumed the charge here last week only,assured to get the things right soon.