Transformation & Development Department amends rules for sanctioning funds for constituency development
By Our Staff Reporter
Guwahati, Sept 15: In a major development, the Transformation & Development Department has on principle decided to sanction 100% funds under the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) scheme for the year 2017-18 only to those constituencies which have utilised at least 70% fund in the previous fiscal.
According to a notification issued on Friday by the department, which was earlier known as Planning & Development Department, 100% fund will be sanctioned only on receipt of necessary proposals along with an utilisation certificate from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) concerned.
Subsequently, from the fincial year 2018-19 onward, budgeted amount under the MLALAD scheme will be sanctioned and released to constituencies where a minimum 70% out of the sanctioned amount for the year 2017-18 and the entire sanctioned amount for the year 2016-17 have been released by the DC concerned.
The latest development follows after the department noticed that utilisation of funds in some constituencies have not been satisfactory.
“While the utilisation has not been satisfactory in a few constituencies, even utilisation certificates are not submitted in time by the respective DCs. This leads to delay in execution of the projects under the MLALAD, while some remain half done,” said a source.
Under the MLALAD, which is non-lapsable, each MLA is entitled to approve projects for infrastructure development in his or her respective constituency amounting to Rs 1 crore every year.
While the MLA approves the projects, the fund is sanctioned by the Planning & Development Department after the DC concern draws up proposals. The DC is also responsible for monitoring and executing the projects. Further, a committee is constituted to oversee execution of these projects with local representatives as well as government officials.
However, of late, there have been reports of alleged irregularities from some constituencies. An FIR was recently filed against Kamrup DC and Additiol DC, besides Chaygaon legislator Rekibuddin, by an individual who claimed misappropriation of MLALAD funds.
No doubt the MLA concerned takes most of the flak for the alleged anomalies in implementation of schemes under the MLALAD, but the DC concerned is ultimately responsible for all these as the district administration chief monitors their execution and releases funds.
The MLALAD Scheme was introduced in Assam during the tenure of Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia in 1994-95 on the lines of MPLAD Scheme introduced by the Central government for the MPs in 1993-94.