Constituency Development Fund for Legislators Doubled

Fund increased to `3 cr from `1.54 cr; they can use it as per their discretion

HYDERABAD: It is ‘Double Dhamaka’ for MLAs and MLCs in the state.

Immediately after the state Assembly adopted the Bill increasing the salaries of the legislators, the House also approved  to double the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from the present Rs 1.54 crore to Rs 3 crore per year. 

Moreover, MLAs and MLCs will be given full powers on the lines of MPs to spend the entire Rs 3 crore as per their discretion and as per the needs of the local people.

Hitherto, 50 per cent of the CDF was being sanctioned by incharge minister of the district and the remaining 50 per cent by the respective MLA/MLC.

Opposition leader K Jana Reddy raised the matter in the House on Tuesday and wanted the government to give Rs 5 crore towards Constituency Development Fund. MIM, BJP and members of all other parties supported Jana Reddy.

Responding to this, the CM announced immediately on the floor of the House that he would double the CDF. The CDF funds will be given to 120 MLAs (including one nominated member) and 40 MLCs. The extra burden on the exchequer would be Rs 480 crore annually. The entire amount will be met from the Special Development Fund (SDF) of around Rs 4,000 crore provided in the 2016-17 Budget.

“Orders will be issued in a couple of days that the MLAs/MLCs can spent the money without the government intervention,” Rao said. The CM said each minister would have Rs 25 crore Special Development Fund (SDF) and each district collector would have Rs 10 crore and now MLAs would have Rs 3 crore.

TS Assembly Passes Bill on Salary Hike for Legislators

Hyderabad: The salaries and allowances of MLAs and MLCs in the state are set for a two-fold hike as the Assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill in this regard. Minister for legislative affairs T Harish Rao moved the Telangana Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualifications (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and all parties unanimously gave their consent to it. The hike was made as per the recommendation of the Committee on Amenities of the Telangana Legislature which met on March 21. It was estimated that the hike would cause a recurring expenditure of Rs 42.67 crore per annum. Harish Rao said the hike is being made as per requests made to the government in last one-and-half year by MLAs and MLCs. The estimated expenditure on hike in salaries does not constitute even the perceptible percentage of the state budget, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said.

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