Lok Sabha Question No. 1585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Increasing MPLAD Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan, Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1585

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## INCREASING MPLAD FUND

1585.  SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  major  hurdles  of  procedural delays are met while trying to get the projects cleared for execution under the MPLAD funds;
- (b) if so, whether the Ministry had conducted any study to understand the delay in execution of the recommended projects, timely intimation of status etc. which unnecessarily  lead to negative publicity;
- (c)
- if so, the finding thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is also aware that most of the MPs have at least seven assembly constituencies under a parliamentary constituency and that each MLA is eligible to spend  Rs. 6 crore per annum under his / her legislative assembly constituency;
- (e) if  so,  whether the Government is aware that the funds under MPLAD
- cannot match the funds available under MLA-LAD; and
- (f) if so, whether the Government considers increasing the MPLAD funds at  least  to  match  the  number  of  legislative  constituency  including tripling the existing funds and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER  OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a),(b)and(c) The Ministry releases funds under the Members of Parliament

Local  Area  Development  Scheme  (MPLADS)  in  accordance  with  the scheme guidelines  and implementation in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities in ac cordance with the State Government's technical, administrative and financial rules. Sanction, rejection and completion of the work are to be done by the District Authorities as per the time line stipulated in MPLADS guidelines.

Ministry regularly follows up with the District Authorities to submit the fund related documents online for timely release of funds. Training  to the District Officials is also being imparted. Given  the distinct nature of the MPLAD Scheme, several measures are also taken by the Ministry from time to time to reduce delay in execution of works such as:-

(i)   Officers of the Ministry are deputed to visit various States/ Districts to review the implementation of the Scheme.

(ii) Ministry conducts Annual Review Meeting with the Nodal Departments of  all  the  State/  UT  Governments  to  discuss  the  implementation    of  the scheme.  Ministry  also  impresses  upon  the  Nodal  Departments  of  the State/  UT  Governments to convene Meetings under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary with the District Authorities and Members of Parliament at least once in a year. Quarterly review meetings are conducted by the District  Authorities  with  the  implementing  agencies  at  district  level  to review the progress of implementation of MPLAD Scheme.

(d),  (e)  and  (f)    The  Members  of  Legislative  Assembly  Local  Area Development ( MLA LAD) funds may vary across states and is under the domain of respective State/UT Government.  There is no  proposal under consideration  of  the  Government  to  increase  the  MPLADS  funds  at present.

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