Officials should take special interest in implementing the MP’s local area development (MPLAD) fund projects in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes areas, Kasaragod MP P. Karunakaran has said.
He was speaking at a review meeting on MPLAD convened at the District Collectorate here on Tuesday.
The MPLAD projects in SC and ST areas, mostly infrastructure works such as drinking water, transport and electricity works, were either delayed or facing hindrance. Such works should be viewed in a broad perspective by the implementing officers, he said.
As per the Central government guidelines, 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent of MPLAD fund should be earmarked for works for SC and ST respectively.
The MP said that since the SC and ST population in the district was smaller, it would be hard to implement projects as stipulated in the guideline.
The projects proposed under this category, however, were often hit by technical reasons, he noted. Instead of viewing such proposals in a purely technical manner, the officials should consider the general welfare of the people living in the SC and ST areas. He also called for completing the works under the 15th Lok Sabha period by November to avert fund lapse.
District Collector P. Bala Kiran said at the meeting that works under MPLAD fund should be expedited to ensure 100 per cent achievement. He also instructed the officials to give special focus on works to be completed before the onset of monsoon.
92 completed
The projects proposed under the MPLAD fund scheme during the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha totalled an estimated Rs.596.62 crore. As many as 119 works were given administrative sanction and 92 of them were completed, the meeting was told.
The officials said that 27 works were in progress. In 2014-15, 22 of the 64 works proposed under the scheme had been accorded administrative sanction, District Planning Officer Ajayakumar Meenoth informed.
Expedite works for 100% fund utilisation: Collector
Rs.596.62-crore work during 15th Lok Sabha’s tenure
