The state has registered tardy progress in utilising MPs’ Local Area Development Scheme(MPLADS) funds, with projects of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members being 67 percent and 65 percent complete respectively, placing Kerala at the 22nd place among the states.
As per a note prepared by the General Administration Department, the total annual entitlement of MPs from Kerala is Rs 150 crore. A huge part of this amount is pending release from the Centre as the District Collectors have yet to meet the requirements.
Speaking to Express, A Sampath MP, who spent 105.45 percent of his funds (Rs 12.76 crore), said there was no point in blaming the District Collectors.
“There should be a proper monitoring mechanism supported by adequate manpower. The government should appoint sufficient officials at District Planning Offices for the effective implementation of the projects,” he said.
K N Balagopal MP, who could spend only 64.95 percent of his MPLADS funds, said: “The major reason for the poor implementation of the projects is red tape. Procedural delay is causing the tardy progress.”
The progress of Rajya Sabha members’ projects stands at 65 percent, while 84.03 percent of their funds have already been spent. Their Lok Sabha counterparts have spent 76 percent of the funds but the progress of their projects stood at 67 percent on May 31, 2013.
According to a note prepared for the annual conference of District Collectors and heads of departments scheduled to be held here on October 21 and 22, delay in sanction from the district authorities and settlement of final bills had contributed to the huge unspent balance. Lack of project-level monitoring and poor periodic inspection are cited as reasons for the slow pace of development projects.