(a) whether the first instalment of the amount under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme has been released during the current year:
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the steps taken by the Government to release the fund under the said scheme expeditiously?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND
PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS.
(SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a & b) The first instalment of the MPLADS funds for the current
year viz. 1999-2000 has been released in all eligible cases,
where the un-sanctioned balance has been reported to be less than
Rs.50 lakhs by the concerned DC. The weekly statement of release
of funds is sent to Parliament Library and the information is
also available on internet at URL www.nic.in/dpi.
(c) MPLADS funds are released on receipt of an expenditure
statement showing an unsanctioned balance of less than Rs.50
lakhs. For this purpose, a proforma has already been circulated
to all District Collectors. The District Collectors have also
been advised to sanction all the works recommended by MPs as per
their entitlement of funds without waiting for the receipt of
funds from this Ministry and to send a report in the prescribed
format so that funds may be released to the fullest extent. The
MPs have also been requested to give recommendations for
sufficient works to the concerned Collector for optimum
utilisation of MPLADS funds as per their entitlement.