MPs8217; fund to go up despite CAG rap

When the observations of the CAG were brought his Naik, he said he had held a prolonged meeting with the CAG on the row. 8220;I explained to the CAG at length the procedure prescribed by the Centre on allocation of fund and its utilisation,8221; Naik told The Indian Express.

Naik felt the CAG could find faults in the implementation process as their evaluation procedure was incorrect. 8220;I feel that the CAG was convinced by my explanation. From nextyear, I think they should adopt a new formula to evaluate the performance of the scheme,8221; he said.

Naik said the elected representative had to first identify the scheme, prepare estimates for it and then submit it to the district collector for implementation. 8220;This process consumes a lot of time. As a result, even if the project is submitted to the collector, its actual implementation in some cases starts in the next financial year. However, for the CAG, since the project is not completed in the year in which it was sanctioned, it amounts to lapse,8221; Naik added.

In its report submitted to Parliament, the CAG has observed that during the period 1993-97, when the Centre released Rs 2324.55 crore, the district collectors spent only Rs 1285 crore.

Secondly, MPs in 332 districts in 24 states recommended more than 12 lakh works out of which the collectors sanctioned 10 lakh. Only six lakh works were completed by the end of 1997.

Thirdly, implementing agencies in 37 districts of eight states did not refundunspent amount of Rs 3.08 crore even though works were not taken up till March, while Rs 5.75 crore was wasted as 802 works in 33 districts of 15 states were abandoned midway.

On these observations, Naik said the scheme envisaged that works taken up should be completed in one or two working seasons. 8220;It will be difficult to comment on individual cases. Apparently, in certain cases, the works were not in accordance with the prescribed scheme,8221; he added.

Naik said the scheme specifies that funds will not be utilised for construction of office, residential and other buildings concerned with Central or State governments, agencies or organisations. However, it was found that in atleast 229 cases, there was gross violation of these guidelines.

Naik further informed that as per the directives of the CAG, a comprehensive evaluation plan is being drafted to examine the present status of works recommended by MPs.

Maharashtra was the first state in the country to launch a constituency development fund forlegislators more than a decade ago. Over the period, it has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.

When Naik was elected to Parliament, he took up allocation of funds to MPs on the pattern of Maharashtra with the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who conceded immediately.