MPs don8217;t spend on their constituencies

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24: For all the publicity given to the scheme to allow Members of Parliament to spend up to Rs 2 crore a year for develo...

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24: For all the publicity given to the scheme to allow Members of Parliament to spend up to Rs 2 crore a year for developmental work in their constituencies, in the first seven months of the current year, the MPs spent a paltry 15 per cent of the allocation for the full year. While the funds available for the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme MPLADS in 1998-99 was Rs 1,886 crore, including Rs 306 crore from last year8217;s unutilised funds, the amount spent was a mere Rs 278 crore.

For the entire period since 1993-94, when the MPLADS was launched, the figure is more respectable, though, at around 63 per cent allocated for both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs. A total of Rs 2077.14 crore has actually been spent against the release of Rs 3262.38 crore since the launch of the scheme.

The Ministry has admitted that the progress of expenditure under the scheme was slow up to 1994-95 for various reasons but it gained momentum in 1995-96. During 1996-97, the execution of MPLADS workreceived a setback due to the Lok Sabha elections as the model code of conduct came into force throughout the country from March 19, 1996, which affected starting of new works.

Further, with the dissolution of the tenth Lok Sabha and constitution of the eleventh Lok Sabha, important policy decisions with regard to utilisation of balance funds of previous MPs were to be taken and hence the continued process of execution of works was further affected.

The subsequent dissolution of the Lok Sabha on December 4, 1997 and directive from the Election Commission to stop further release of funds under the scheme had its effect on the pace of utilisation of funds and implementation of works under the scheme.

While a series of steps have been taken by the government, the utilisation of funds during the first seven months of the current financial year was only Rs 277.50 crore against the budget provisions of Rs 1,886 crore including the previous year8217;s lapsed amount of Rs 306.5 crore.

Under the MPLADS, a Memberof Parliament has the choice to suggest works to the tune of Rs 2 crore every year to be taken up in his/her constituency. The scope of the scheme was also broad-based to include five electronic projects in an effort to benefit the student community.

Story continues below this ad

The government has allocated Rs 1,580 crore for the next financial year and steps have been taken to further streamline the implementation of the scheme by way of removing bottlenecks in the extant procedures and issuing general/specific clarifications.

The government is also considering the district administrations8217; demand of allowing funds for contingent expenditure incurred for the implementation of the scheme.

The ministry has also issued direction to the state governments to issue suitable instructions to the district administrations and implementation agencies.