Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday chaired an annual review meeting on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
The meeting was attended by the Nodal Secretaries from States and Union Territories who are overseeing the implementation of MPLADS.
The key issues, which were discussed in the meeting include, the status of pending installments, progress on the utilisation of MPLADS fund, the status of works recommended and progress of sanctioned works in natural calamities area, review meetings of MPLADS at state level, closure of accounts, recent modification in guidelines, etc.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that major problems being faced in the implementation of the scheme at the district level included non-submission of requisite documents in time to the ministry.
Addressing the participants at the inaugural session, Gowda congratulated all the stakeholders on the occasion of the MPLADS scheme completing 25 years and also urged the MPs to contribute towards rehabilitation works to the flood-ravaged Kerala.
He also exhorted the district authorities to sanction the recommended eligible works and make efforts to speed up the utilisation. The minister hoped that the discussions during the technical sessions would further improve implementation of the scheme.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), KV Eapen highlighted the role and responsibility of different stakeholders of the scheme and emphasised the need of timely utilisation of previous releases and furnishing the required documents for further releases.
Formulated by Centre in 1993, MPLAD allows each MP to suggest to the head of the district works to be taken up in his/her constituency to the tune of Rs. 5 crore per year.
Since April 2014, out of 4,67,144 works recommended by the MPs (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), 4,11,612 works have been sanctioned and 3,84,260 works have been completed up to July 31, 2018.
From inception till July 31, 2018, Rs 47,922.75 crore have been released under the scheme and works of Rs 49,065.58 crore have been sanctioned by the district authorities. Of the total release since inception, Rs 45604.94 crore have been utilised.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
