DCs directed to review MPLADS projects

Chandigarh, Dec 28 (UNI) Punjab Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has asked all the Deputy Commissioners of the state to review the implimentation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) on fortnightly basis to ensure proper utilisation of funds in their respective districts.

While presiding over a meeting of the state level review committee for MPLADS held here today, he said the executing agencies should pay due regard to the quality and durability of assets being created under the scheme.

He urged the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to undertake some sample-checking of works themselves as well as impress upon the other supervisory officers to ensure regular checking of works.

''The Deputy Commissioners must also maintain proper liaison with the Members of Parliament to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme,'' he added.

''Any laxity on the part of the officers in releasing the sanctioned amount in time would not be tolerated and stern action would be initiated against the erring officers,'' said the Chief Secretary.

Under the scheme, all Members of Parliament belonging to both Houses are entitled to Rs 2 crore annual grant from the Union Ministry of Programme Implementation and Statistics to be used for different development works in their respective constituencies. Planning Secretary Satish Chandra, while giving an overview of the performance of the state under MPLADS, stated that since the inception of the scheme in 1993 by the Central government, total funds to the tune of Rs 458 crore had been received in the state against which Rs 418 crore had been utilised, which was 93.15 per cent.

He said that at the all India level, Punjab ranked third after Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pardesh in the utilisation of MPLADS funds.

He said that the Department of Planning, which was the nodal Department for the implementation of the scheme of the state was following up with the Members of Parliament for proper sanction and utilisation of funds and availing of all grants due to the state and the constituencies therein.

Commissioners of all divisions, Deputy Commissioners of Districts, Special Secretary Planning and other senior officers of the Planning Department were also present at the meeting.

UNI