MPs from AP lag in MPLADS spending

Amaravati: Despite completing four-and-a-half years tenure, the Lok Sabha members of the states have not even submitted proposals for utilisation of around Rs 180 crore out of the total entitled Rs 625 crore under MPLADS funds. The cumulative funds allotted to the 25 members of Parliament for the 16th Lok Sabha is Rs 625 crore. Recently, the MPs submitted proposals for Rs 27.5 crore. So far, the Government of India has released only Rs 417.5 crore in 167 instalments.

During the recent Collectors’ Conference held at Undavalli in Guntur, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed displeasure over the Lok Sabha members not utilising their funds effectively. For the first time, Naidu seriously focussed on the failure of MPs in making use their funds and directed the district collectors and the officials concerned to use the money for developmental activities in the state as requested by the leaders.

The Central government has been giving Rs 5 crore for each MP per year under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. The MPs are allowed to spend the money for their local area development at their discretion. District collectors Concerned are responsible for executing the works suggested by the MPs under this scheme.

Most of the ruling party MPs did not spend the money, as per the statistics revealed by the officials. The Lok Sabha members from the districts, including Krishna, East Godavari, Anantapur and West Godavari spent the least amount when compared with the MPs of Vizianagaram, Nellore, Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and others.

Former union minister and TDP leader Pasupuleti Ashok Gajapati Raju of Vizianagaram is the only leader who spent the maximum amount of MPLADS when compared with the others in the state. Gajapati Raju spent more than Rs 22.5 crore out of the total entitled amount of Rs 25 crore.
Two Lok Sabha members of Krishna district, Konakalla Narayana of Machilipatnam and Kesineni Srinivasa Rao of Vijayawada, have spent exactly 50 per cent of the amount allocated to them by the end of their tenure.

They spent just Rs 25 crore out of the total Rs 50 crore of their MPLADS funds. Thota Narasimham of Kakinada, Maganti Murali Mohan of Rajamahendravaram and Pandula Ravindra Babu of Amalapuram (SC) Lok Sabha constituencies of East Godavari could be able to spend only Rs 50 crore out of targeted Rs 75 crore. They submitted proposals for another Rs 2.5 crore only.

Lok Sabha members representing from Anantapuram district incluidng JC Diwakar Reddy of Anantapuram and Nimmala Krishtappa of Hindupur together failed to utilize the MPLADS completely. They just utilized Rs 25 crore and proposals submitted for another Rs 5 crore. Still both these leaders have to submit proposals for remaining Rs 20 crore.

BJP MP Gokaraju Ganga Raju of Narsapuram and Maganti Venkateswara Rao also known as Maganti Babu of TDP from West Godavari together spent only Rs 25 crore and submitted proposals for another Rs 5 crore. They still have to submit proposals for remaining Rs 20 crore.