BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is considering a proposal from the Assembly Standing Committee on Planning and Coordination department to place MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds under the disposal of deputy director, Planning.
The Assembly Committee observed that MLALAD funds are not released in time by the Project Directors, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) as they are overburdened. In its latest report submitted to the Assembly, the committee recommended that the funds should be placed under the disposal of Deputy Director, Planning.
Though MLALAD funds are released to the blocks, works are not completed within the stipulated period. The Committee recommended that for timely completion of work, one junior engineer in each block should be authorised to do all the MLALAD works.
The report said the recommendation of the Committee was communicated to the Panchayati Raj department for its views. However, response from the department is still awaited.
Besides, the Committee asked the State Government to include Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts in any special State plan as these three districts are backward and not getting any special funding from the State for development.
In order to take a view on the above recommendation, the State Government has sought information on flow of funds during the last three years from all the districts. Stating that complete information from all the districts is yet to be received, the report said that a decision will be taken after receiving the details in this regard.
The Committee recommended that an additional `50 lakh should be allocated under the special development programme scheme for each Assembly constituency in the State. Besides, the MLALAD fund for the MLAs should be increased by `50 lakh, it added.