Lok Sabha Question No. 3132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Delay in Release of MPLAD Funds
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3132

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2018

## DELAY IN RELEASE OF MPLAD FUNDS

3132.   SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  complaints  have  been  received  regarding considerable delay in releasing funds from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund despite the  recommendations  by  the  Members  of  Parliament which is hindering development works;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to simplify rules so that common and regular reasons for delays could be resolved immediately?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  MINISTRY  OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS [SHRI VIJAY GOEL]

(a) to (c): Complaints and references regarding delay in release of funds  under  the  Members  of  Parliament  Local  Area  Development Scheme (MPLADS) at district level are received in the Ministry on a continuing  basis.  Complaints  on  receipt  are  referred  to  State  and District Authorities for taking appropriate action.

Data  on  year-wise  complaints  and  action  taken  thereon  is  not centrally  maintained  in  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  &  Programme Implementation.

Release of funds under the MPLADS at the Central Government level as well as at the District level is governed by the provisions contained in the Guidelines on MPLADS.

Para 4.2 of the Guidelines on MPLADS stipulates that at the time of the constitution of Lok Sabha, and election of a Rajya Sabha Member, the  first  instalment  of  Rs.  2.5  crore  is  released  to  the  District Authority without any documents. In the subsequent years, the first installment  of  MPLADS  funds  is  released  subject  to  submission  of provisional  Utilisation  Certificate  (UC)  of  the  previous  year  for  at least 80% of expenditure of the first instalment of the previous year. The  second  installment  is  released  on  submission  of  Monthly Progress Report (MPR) reflecting unsanctioned balance of less than Rs.100 lakh and unspent balance of less than Rs.250 lakh with the District  Authority  along  with  the  Utilisation  Certificate  (UC)  of  the previous financial year and Audit Certificate (AC) of the year prior to requisite  documents  and certifications  are  received,  the  funds  are  released  by  the  Central the previous year. As soon as the Government. The District Authorities release funds to the Implementing Agencies in accordance with the State Government's rules/guidelines applicable for the purpose. Funds under the MPLADS are non-lapsable, both at the end of the Central  Government  and  at  the  end  of  the  District  Authorities. Members of Parliament can recommend works up to their full annual entitlement without linking with actual release of funds and District Authorities  are  required  to  undertake  immediate  sanction  and implementation of the eligible works so recommended. Implementation of the works in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities, as per the State Government's technical, administrative and  financial  rules  and  in  accordance  with  the  Guidelines  on MPLADS. For timely execution of works, time-lines for (i) sanction of eligible works, (ii) rejection of ineligible works and (iii) completion of sanctioned  works  are  prescribed  in  the  Guidelines  on  MPLADS. However,  wherever  delay  in  release  of  funds  under  MPLADS  at district level comes to notice of the Ministry, the matter is referred to State and District Authorities for taking appropriate action.

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