Over Rs 300 crore unspent in Gujarat MLA's fund: report
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Gujarat MLAs' local area development scheme's fund is underutilised as over Rs 300 crore is remaining unspent. The scheme will expire on completion of the five-year term of the state Assembly.
Every MLA can suggest developmental works worth ₹ 1.5 crores in her/his constituency. The MLAs of 2017-2022 recommended works worth Rs 1,004.15.
Rs 849.64 crore were released and Rs 677.5 crore were spent till March 2022, which was around 67.47%. The unspent amount of ₹ 300 crores will expire once the Assembly term ends.
The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and NGO Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) jointly prepared the report on the performance of MLAs of the outgoing Gujarat Assembly.
The District Planning Board keeps the accounts of the MLA LADS fund. The report said only 76% of the works were completed out of the total 53,029 projects that were sanctioned. Till March 2022, only 40,428 were completed.
The report said the remaining amount could have been used for something. The term of the present Assembly will end in December. It is unlikely that the unspent funds can be used in such a short time. The planning committee was asked to look into the reason for sanctioned works not being started.
In tribal districts, of the total Rs 252 crore funds available with MLAs. Projects worth Rs 230.37 crore were sanctioned in these regions but only Rs 177.40 crore were spent. Rs 75 crore remains unspent in MLA LADs account. Out of 14,689 works planned and sanctioned, only 11,445 were completed. The report pointed out several gaps in the planning and execution stages. Details of the expenditure of funds were also demanded.
"There should be comprehensive guidelines for the kind of work to be recommended under MLA LAD scheme, implementation mechanism, and review for its progress," said the report. "If the work could not be started, then the reason for the same and reason for under-utilisation should be given," added MAGP.
