Question : Unused MPLAD Fund

(a) whether thousands of crores of rupees remain unspent under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Central Information Commission (CIC) has suggested to come out with a legal framework to ensure transparency and accountability under the scheme and if so, the details in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to put a legal framework in place to ensure transparency and accountability under the scheme; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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) The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds are non-lapsable and balance/available funds with the District Authorities are in pipeline either to be utilized for already sanctioned ongoing projects by the District Authority, in the subsequent years or are subsequently transferred to the successor account to be utilized in the same constituency by the successor. A statement indicating cumulative release, expenditure and amount of balance funds for the last five years is as follows-

Statement
(Amount in Rs. crore)
Position as on* GOI Release Expenditure Balance fund

31.03.2015 36007.25 32373.12 4857.51
31.03.2016 39509.25 35997.90 4950.34
31.03.2017 43008.75 39904.26 5029.31
31.03.2018 46512.75 43980.55 4877.71
31.03.2019 50462.25 48997.07 4103.97

*figures are cumulative figures since inception.

(b), (c) and (d) The Central Information Commission has suggested to come out with a legal frame work to ensure transparency and accountability under the scheme vide Order:

i. CIC/MOSPI/A/2017/195498 dated 16.10.2018 in case of Shri Ram Gopal Dixit.

ii. CIC/ISTIN/A/2017/184311 dated 16.09.2018 in case of Shri Vishnu Dev Bhandari.
The matter has been examined by the Government in consultation with various stake holders and it has been decided to challenge these orders before the Hon’ble High Court by filing a Writ Petition (W.P.). However, implementation of the scheme is governed by ‘Guidelines on MPLADS’ since inception. The guidelines are evolving in nature to suit the changing requirements of community and governance.

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