(a) whether the Union Government have received any complaints from the Members of Parliament regarding non-issuance of the utilisation certificate in time and non-execution of work in time by the District Collectors in the States under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Schemes despite the recommendations made by the Member of Parliament;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION,
MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS
AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT
CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISINVESTMENT. (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a), (b)&(c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE HOUSE WITH RESPECT TO
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.543 REGARDING MPLADS BY SHRI DAVNE
RAOSAHEB PATIL TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.4.2001.
(a)&(b) Under the existing Guidelines and procedure, the annual
entitlement of Rs. 2 crore per MP per year is released
in two instalments of Rs. 1 crore each. This is based
on an expenditure report showing unsanctioned balance
less than Rs. 50 lakhs. As soon as such a report is
received from the District Collector, the next
instalment of Rs. 1 crore is released in respect of an
MP. Complaints have been received from some Members of
Parliament regarding non-submission/delay in submission
of such reports.
Complaints have also been received from the Members of
Parliament regarding delay in the implementation/non-
implementation of MPLADS work. These complaints broadly
highlight various circumstances leading to slow pace of
work. Some of these are indicated below:
i) Delay in release of funds.
ii) Delay in processing of recommendations received
from MPs by District Authorities.
iii) Delay in preparation of estimates by the concerned
agencies.
iv) Delay in issue of financial sanction by the
District Heads.
v) Non-compliance of time frame by the implementing
agencies.
vi) Delay in transfer of funds from one District to
another.
vii) Non-submission of expenditure statement by
District Heads to the Central Government.
viii) Non-availability of/delay in acquisition of land.
ix) Operation of the Model Code of Conduct issued by
the Election Commission of India .
x) Numerous other responsibilities of the District
Officials.
(c) Whenever any specific instance of non-submission/delay-
in submission of expenditure report by the District
Collector is brought to the notice of this Ministry, the
concerned collector is immediately contacted for
submission of the requisite report.
On receipt of complaints, about delay in implementation
the matter is immediately taken up with the concerned
State Governments/nodal authorities for investigation
and remedial action. The State Governments have been
advised from time to time to follow strictly the
provisions of the guidelines and implement works
recommended by members of Parliament expeditiously. The
District Heads have been advised to sanction works
recommended by Members of Parliament to the extent
of their entitlement without waiting for actual release
of funds and submit the expenditure report expeditiously
so that funds could be released from the Ministry
speedily. The District Heads have also been advised to
evolve a time frame for implementation keeping in view
the nature of the works and follow the same strictly.
To streamline the process of release of funds by the
Central Government, in place of release of funds of Rs.2
crores in four instalments of Rs.50 lakhs each, it has
been decided to release annual entitlement of Rs.2
crores in two instalments of Rs.1 crore each on the
condition that as soon as the unsanctioned balance comes
below Rs.50 lakhs the next installment of Rs.1 crore is
released. The State Governments/District Heads have
also been advised to comply with the provision of
monitoring of works as per the guidelines on MPLADS and
make special arrangements for holding review meetings at
the level of Chief Secretary/Additional Chief
Secretary/Principal Secretary etc.
The Parliamentary Committee of Lok Sabha on MPLADS
visited Hyderabad on 15.4.2000 to have interaction with
some District Heads of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry and Lakshadweep. The
Committee also visited Khajurao on 12th September, 2000
to have interaction with some District Heads of Madhya
Pradesh, U.P. and Rajasthan. Special Review Meetings
are also being held from time to time at the level of
MOS(S&PI) to remove the constraints so as to ensure
expeditious implementation of works recommended.
Special Review Meetings were held with the MPs and
District Heads in Patna, Calcutta, Bhubneshwar and Goa
under the Chairmanship of MOS (S&PI).