Denied nod to work for unauthorised colonies, Gangwar wants MPLADS guidelines changed

“It should be relaxed. The guidelines do not allow development work in unauthorised colonies while people live there.

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I will take up the issue with concerned ministry for amendment in guidelines,” Gangwar told The Indian Express.

A seven-term MP, Gangwar said that while government departments and MLAs can do development work in unauthorised colonies, an MP is denied such initiative. “Development work is being done by MLAs and other civic bodies including mayor. Only MP is not allowed to undertake work. People from these areas came to me with request for development work. It is a strange situation,” he added.

Gangwar claimed that even in his previous term he had undertaken development work in such unauthorised colonies in Bareilly. “I don’t blame the district administration. They are following the guidelines but there should be some amendment. There colonies are existing and people are living there,” he added.

Gangwar has given proposals for development work in nearly 10 colonies in Bareilly which include Sidharth Nagar Phase II, Saidpur Hawkins, Kailash Vihar, Vasant Vihar, Alok Nagar, Sunaro Wali Gali, Sewadham Phase II, Jeeram Colony, Kankar Vihar and Katghar Jatav Basti. All these colonies have been declared illegal by Bareilly Development Authority (BDA). District administration, on this basis, refused to accept proposals for development work from Gangwar.

The minister also sent his representative to DM office but sources claimed he, too, refused to entertain the proposals. Bareilly has over 100 such colonies, which are treated as unauthorised by BDA.

When contacted, Bareilly DM Gaurav Dayal claimed that he is merely following the guidelines. “There have been fresh guidelines from central government. It clearly states that funds from MPLADS cannot be utilised in unauthorised colonies. We intimated the honourable minister about the restrictions,” Gaurav Dayal said.

The Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation, in November 2013, had issued instructions that undertaking development work in unauthorised colonies is a controversial issue and hence it may not be allowed. The guidelines were issued when Gangwar was not an MP (2009-14) after he lost to Congress candidate Praveen Singh Aron. He was elected for seventh time in May 2014.