Lok Sabha Question No. 750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: MPLADS
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 750

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## MPLADS

750.   DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaints regarding the release of funds/delay in releasing of funds under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS);
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) the  reasons  for  not  releasing/delay  in  releasing  of  the funds; and
- (d) whether the Government has made any assessment for continuing MPLADS and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): 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.

(c): 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 of 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 the previous year. As soon as the requisite  documents  and certifications  are  received,  the  funds  are  released  by  the  Central 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.

(d): The  assessment  for  continuing  the  MPLAD  Scheme  is  under process.

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