'MPs have pumped crores into local development'
Neha Shukla, TNN, Sep 6, 2010, 06.38am IST
LUCKNOW: The MPLADS could be making an impact where it is expected to.
The utilisation of funds under the scheme, as shown in reply to a RTI
query, indicate so. The Members of Parliament Local Area Development
Scheme (MPLADS) in 20-odd years of its existence is shown to have
spent a sizable chunk of funds released under it by its nodal
ministry. The performance of the scheme has improved remarkably since
2004-05, says the ministry in its annual report for 2008-09.
The information has been provided in response to an RTI query by
applicant Urvashi Sharma. The applicant had sought information from
the PMO in July, 2010. She had asked for year-wise and scheme-wise
budgetary allocations, actual funds released and funds consumed (in
Rs) for all development schemes/projects by Central government from
April 1, 1950 to March 31, 2010. She also sought year-wise total fund
allocations, actual funds released by Central government and funds
consumed by MPs for the period mentioned above.
Since inception of the scheme in 1993-94, Rs 20,957.25 crore have been
released to the nodal district authorities of the MPs. As per the
information available in the ministry and information provided by the
nodal district authorities of the MPs, Rs 19,095.02 crore have been
spent, as on March 2010, says A K Choudhary, director and CPIO,
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. It is also the
nodal ministry for the scheme and is responsible for policy
formulations, release of funds and monitoring of the scheme.
Under the said scheme, utilisation of funds is the basic indicator of
performance. The high utilisation of funds is reflected by indicators
such as percentage utilisation over release. Similarly, faster
completion of works over the years is reflected by the percentage of
works completed over works sanctioned by the district authorities. The
figures provided by the ministry indicate utilisation of maximum funds
so far.
The MPLADS was launched on December 23, 1993. It was launched to
"provide a mechanism to the MP to recommend works of developmental
nature for creation of durable community assets and for provision of
basic facilities, including community infrastructure, based on locally
felt needs". An amount of Rs 5 lakh per MP was allotted. The amount
was increased to Rs 1 crore per annum from 1994-95 per
MP/constituency. This amount was further increased to Rs 2 crore from
1998-99. The funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable. The funds remaining
unreleased/unutilised in a particular year are released/utilised in
the subsequent years.
Under the scheme, funds are directly sent to district authorities of
the MPs, who examine and implement the eligible developmental works
recommended by the MP and maintain the details of works/funds utilised
and works executed. The ministry receives the cumulative information
on the works recommended, sanctioned and expenditure incurred through
the Monthly Progress Reports ( MPRs).
Meanwhile, the RTI application has also been transferred to the
department of economic affairs for providing more information to the
applicant.
--
Urvashi Sharma
RTI Helpmail( Web Based )
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
Mobile Rti Helpline
8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )
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