91 pc MPLAD funds utilised in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 19 (UNI) Members of Parliament (MP) from Punjab have maintained as excellent track record as 91 per cent of funds under the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme have been utilised till the end of this fiscal year.

This information was conveyed to the state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal during his meeting with the state Economic and Statistical Second Advisor and other officials here today.

The Minister was informed that the installment of Rs one crore each in the case of seven MPs was still due from the Central Government, as the unspent balance with the Deputy Commissioners was more than Rs one crore for each MP.

The Minister desired that there should not be undue delay in the execution of the development works and all expenditure certificates should be furnished well in time to the MPs so that there is free flow of funds under this scheme.

Mr Badal suggested that the progress of the Punjab Nirman Programme and MPLAD Scheme should be reviewed in all meetings held by the Chief Secretary with the Deputy Commissioners.

Under the Punjab Nirman Programme a sum of Rs 1092.76 crore was sanctioned but Rs 1086.73 crore was actually released, out of which Rs 793.56 crore (73 per cent) has been utilised till March.

The Finance Minister suggested that the pending work should be completed within a month and utilisation certificates (UCs) be submitted to the government by May 31. He directed the officers to send latest reports about the progress of works within a week, and deposit the funds in the State Treasury where the works have not been started so far.

The District Planning and Development Boards may re-prioritise the works if required and send the requird funds for completion of ongoing works.

The progress under the Border Area Development Programme and Rashtriya SAM Vikas Yojana underway in district Hoshiarpur, and other activities of the Economic and Statistical Organisation were also reviewed during the meeting.

Mr Raj Kumar Khurana, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Finance, was also present in the meeting.

UNI