Work done through MPLADS fund not inspected in 2017-18: RTI

DNA: Mumbai: Monday, August 13, 2018.

The district authority has not bothered to carry out any inspection of the works done through MPLADS funds in 2017-18, according to information given under RTI. MPLADS are Member of Parliament's Local Area Development Scheme in which they get Rs 5 crore every year to develop their area.

As per details, in 2017-18, of the 223 works that were sanctioned, 28 were completed during the period, but no inspection was done. The details were given to Pune-based RTI applicant Vihar Durve. Through his two RTI applications, he had sought details of audit report of MLA funds and MPLAD funds in Mumbai. The applications were made on June 21, 2018, to the office of Principal Accountant General Audit 1, Mumbai.

No audit was done of the MLA funds. In the case of MPLADS funds, audit and details were gathered only from the suburban collector office. As per the details provided, the audit report focused on three aspects. These were incomplete works, non-utilisation of administrative funds and inspection of works done by district authority.

On inspection, the audit report stated that at least 10 per cent of the work needs to be inspected that are being implemented every year, including those for societies and trusts. In 2016-17, the district authority inspected just about as many, while in 2017-18 none were inspected.

The audit report stated that during 2014-15 to 2017-18, 1,660 works had been sanctionedm of which 1,064 works were completed after spending Rs 109.05 crore. The audit report stated that works should be completed in a year's time, but 55 works were pending since 2014-15. Fund shortage was cited as the reason behind the pending work. In 2015-16, the authorities did not set aside two per cent of the amount that it is expected to when MPLAD fund is given. It said that it did not receive funding, a claim that the audit report contradicted.

"There has to be transparency in the utilisation of the money they receive. The government was supposed to put up details of the money spent on the website, which has not been done. Every MP has a website of his own. They should put up the details of the funds on them. They manage to reach everywhere, but not give details (for the sake of transparency)," said Durve.

FACT OF THE MATTER

As per details, in 2017-18, of the 223 works that were sanctioned, 28 were completed during, but no inspection was done. The details were given to Pune-based RTI applicant Vihar Durve.