Question : MPLADS Fund

(a) whether the Government has received any request/demand from various Members of Parliament (MPs) to increase the annual funds for the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme and if so, the details thereof, MP-wise;
(b) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocation of the said fund under this scheme;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said increment is likely to take place and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government is aware that MPs are facing difficulties with respect to utilization of the said fund, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government has issued any guidelines for effective utilization of MPLADS fund and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION [SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA]

(a): Representations from Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) have been received in the Ministry from time to time with regard to enhancement of annual allocation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds.

Hon’ble Lok Sabha Committee on MPLADS in its sitting held on 02.07.2013 had recommended to increase the annual allocation per Member of Parliament from rupees 5 crore to rupees 10 crore.

Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha (16th Lok Sabha) and Chairman, Lok Sabha Committee on MPLADS vide letter dated 25.02.2015 had requested for increase of annual allocation of MPLADS funds per Member of Parliament to Rs. 25 crore.

Representations from Hon’ble MPs including Shri Uday Pratap Singh, Shri Gutha Sukender Reddy, Shri Lalubhai B. Patel, Shri Dushyant Chautala and a joint representation of 255 Hon’ble MPs was received in this Ministry for enhancement of annual allocation of MPLADS funds.

(b): No, Madam.

(c): Does not arise.

(d) & (e): Utilization of MPLADS funds is based on the recommendations by Hon’ble MPs and sanction / execution of works by the District Authorities. 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.

The Guidelines prescribe that all recommended eligible works should be sanctioned by the District Authorities within 75 days from the receipt of the recommendations, and the MPs should be informed regarding rejections if any within 45 days with reasons thereof. The time-limit for completion of the works should generally not exceed one year.

Problems of delay, etc. in sanction and implementation of the works are addressed at the district level, data on which is not maintained at the central level in the Ministry.

In all cases where references regarding delay, etc. in the sanction or implementation of the works at the district level are received in the Ministry, the State Governments/District Authorities are requested to take appropriate action and the cases are regularly monitored for necessary compliance.

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