MPLAD funds sting: probe likely

The Pawan Kumar Bansal (Special) Committee set up to probe the cash-for-question scam may have some more work to do now that another televis...

The Pawan Kumar Bansal (Special) Committee set up to probe the cash-for-question scam may have some more work to do now that another televised sting has shown MPs misappropriating the MPLADs funds.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who has for long been calling for scrapping the “unscientific” MPLADs scheme, said about today’s Star News expose: “It is shocking. If proved true, consequences should follow.”

Chatterjee maintains that the Rs 2 crore annual MPLADs fund, if properly utilised, without malpractice and misappropriation as found by the CAG and by Chennai-based Centre for Social Studies, could be useful only if it goes directly to the District Planning Boards and is not used to create a parallel system/economy of sorts by the MPs. Indications are that the latest Star News expose will be raised by the Speaker at his 10.30 morning meeting tomorrow with leaders of various parties. The five-member Bansal Committee will, in all likelihood, be asked to probe the MPLADs graft charges as well.

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But the UPA government is far from scrapping the scheme.

Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation, said: “We have ruled out the demand from MPs to increase the funds from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, but there is no proposal — concrete or otherwise — to scrap the scheme.” The scheme was set up by an executive order during former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s tenure. Fernandes said even prior to “these revelations” his ministry had taken many steps to streamline the MPLADs scheme and reduce misuse and misappropriation of funds. “There have been several reports from MPs’ side as well where the funds assigned by them for development projects have been misappropriated by local bodies,” he said.

The minister said a software had been put in place to keep track of where the money is going and how it is being spent. “We are also insisting on audit reports as well as utilisation certificates before the funds are released. We are taking steps…” he added.

An estimated Rs 6,000 crore is allocated per year for the local area development schemes including those of MLAs and MLCs.

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About 800 MPs are entitiled to Rs 2 crore each for development activities in their constituencies or states (as in the case of Rajya Sabha members) and MLAs/MLCs get Rs 1 crore each.

MPs are resisting the move to scrap the MPLADs scheme, but the Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee have agreed in principle with Chatterjee’s proposal to set up a Select Committee to look at how to phase out the scheme.

BJP to finalise stand

New delhi: The BJP—which had suspended the six MPs involved in the cash-for-question scam—is likely to come out with its stand on the alleged involvement of its MPs in the MPLAD scam expose at tomorrow’s parliamentary party meeting. —PTI