Lok Sabha Question No. 1686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Utilization of MPLAD Funds
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1686 ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 4 TH  MAY, 2016

## UTILIZATION OF MPLAD FUNDS

## 1686.   SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  Members  of  Parliament  (MPs)  who  have utilized less than half of their MPLAD funds;
- (b) the reasons for the sub-optimal utilization of MPLAD funds;
- (c) the details of the sectors and projects in which most of the funds were utilized;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  received  recommendations
- for relaxing norms for utilization of MPLAD funds; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  MINISTRY  OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR  MINISTRY  OF  EXTERNAL  AFFAIRS  [GENERAL  (Dr.) V.K. SINGH (Retd.)]

- (a):   Under  the  Members  of  Parliament  Local  Area  Development Scheme (MPLADS), honourable Members of Parliament (MPs) recommend works of developmental nature for creation of durable community assets. Implementation of works in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities. MP-wise release and utilisation details as furnished by the District Authorities are available  on  the  official  website  of  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme implementation (www.mospi.gov.in). These figures have to  be  used  with  caution  as  there  is  a  disparity  in  various  district authorities in rendering Utilization Certificates (UC). The funds are not  considered  utilized  till  receipt  of  UC  from  district  authorities. Thus exact picture of utilization is not available.

(b): The funds under the MPLADS are non-lapsable both at the end of the Union Government and at the end of the District Authority i.e. the  unspent  balances  of  a  particular  year  are  utilized  in  the subsequent year (s). 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. Reasons for delay in utilization of MPLADS funds are broadly due to delay  in  (i)  follow  up  of  recommendations  by  honourable  MPs,  (ii) sanction by District Authorities and (iii) implementation by Implementing  Agencies.  The  specific  reasons  vary  from  case  to case. (c): The implementation of works in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities. Durable assets in areas such as drinking water, primary  education,  public  health,  sanitation  and  roads,  etc.  have been created under the scheme. Individual project-wise details are not maintained centrally and are available only with district authorities. (d) & (e): The  Rajya  Sabha  Committee  on  MPLADS  in  its  meeting held on 11.02.2016 made a recommendation to request Ministry of Finance to relax  the  General Financial  Rules  (GFRs)  to  the  extent possible  in  order  that  release  of  MPLADS  funds  is  not  delayed because  of  non-submission  of  Utilization  Certificates  by  Nodal District  Authorities.  The  matter  has  been  referred  to  Ministry  of Finance.

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