Revised guidelines for MLA Local Area Development Scheme approved

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) Delhi Cabinet today gave its nod to the revised guidelines for MLA Local Area Development Scheme and also approved increasing Indraprastha Gas Company Ltd equity share in joint venture company upto 25 per cent.

In a meeting of the cabinet, presided by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the guidelines for MLA Local Area Development Scheme were revised in oder to make it more workable to help in enhancement of pace of developmental works recommended by concerned MLAs in the city. The scheme could now be converged with central government, state government and local body plan schemes.

Wherever, such pooling was done, funds from other schemes sources would have to be used first and the MLALAD/MPLAD funds would be released later so it resulted in completion of the work.

It had also been decided to permit 15 per cent of MLALAD amount on maintenance work.

Apart from this the restriction on use of plan schemes had also been dispensed with.

MLALAD Scheme was started in 1994-95 when the fund under the scheme was Rs one crore per MLA per year. The limit was increased to Rs two crore in 2004-05.

It was also informed that a 1500 MW Green Power Plant would become operational by 2010-2011 in Jhajjar. A JVC was being set up by National Thermal Power Corp, which would have the majority stake.

Operation and maintenance of the power plant would also be done by NTPC. 50 per cent of the power generated from the plant, 750 MW, would be available for Delhi.

The cabinet decided to increase the state government's equity holding in IPGCL from 24.5 to 25 per cent in JVC as NTPC would have 50 per cent equity holding and proportionally the equity of IPGCL and HPGCL had been raised to 25 per cent each from existing 24.5 per cent.

The financial liability on account of the increase of 0.5 per cent would be Rs 35 crore and the total investment would come to approximately Rs 535 crore.

The cabinet also discussed a proposal of extending metro connectivity to Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dwarka subcity. No decision was taken, however, it was resolved to reconsider the proposal at the earliest.

UNI IP SY BD1914