The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New guidelines for effective utilisation of MPLADS funds soon

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Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New guidelines for effective utilisation of MPLADS funds soon

M. L. Melly Maitreyi

Andhra Pradesh ranks 15th in utilisation of funds

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh sends a large contingent to Parliament – 42 to the Lok Sabha and 18 to the Rajya Sabha – but it ranks 15th in the country in the matter of utilisation of funds under MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

Many of these 60 MPs from the State are not active in spending MPLADS funds. Though the funds do not lapse at the end of the year under the MPLADS, time-bound utilisation would make a difference to local communities. Under the 14th Lok Sabha, a sum of Rs. 30 crore was lying unutilised.

Each MP is given Rs.2 crore a year under MPLADS for creating durable community assets of national priorities like drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads etc.

The Centre is contemplating to introduce new guidelines to ensure effective utilisation of funds sanctioned under MPLADS.

Based on the reports submitted by CAG and NABARD Consultancy Services and instances in districts across the States where implementation of the scheme is tardy, a meeting was held in New Delhi last month to review the existing guidelines and bring in necessary changes for better implementation and monitoring.

The meeting held underscored the need to allot funds under the scheme to areas inhabited by SC and ST population for visible development in those areas. It also said the allocations be made in proportion to SC, ST population in a Parliamentary constituency.

Projects

The district Collectors should be proactive and prepare a list of projects on the basis of guidelines and facilitate MPs, particularly Rajya Sabha members, to recommend development works based on local requirement in their constituencies, the meeting felt.

Some of the guidelines proposed include enhancing the advance payment to agencies executing the works from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, relaxing the time limit for execution of works worth more than Rs.1 crore from the present three months to one year and fixing strict parameters for selection of societies/trusts implementing works.

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