Unused MLALAD funds to go to State exchequer
Not a single paisa of MLALAD funds was used during the fiscal 2006-07 in
Dholai, Baitholangshu, Majuli, Dergaon, Jorhat, Bijni, Sidli and Dhemaji LACs
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Oct 14: Massive underutilization and unutilization of cash
released by the Planning and Development Department of the Asom Government as
MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds over the years has prompted the State
Government to think to make the non-lapsable MLALAD funds lapsable i.e.
introducing the system of the taking the unused money of the MLALAD funds back
to the State exchequer. Besides exposing the lack of commitment on the part of
the elected representatives of the State towards the development of their
respective Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs), underutilization and
unutilization of the released cash failed the very purpose of the MLALAD
funds which had been introduced in the State by then Chief Minister Hiteswar
Saikia in 1994.
According sources, the Additional Chief Secretary in-charge of P & D Department
has prepared a note stating that the unused MLALAD funds will go back to the
State exchequer. However, the Additional Chief secretarys note is yet to be
approved by the Chief Minister. The system prevalent at present is that the
unused MLALAD funds are released for developmental schemes of the
constituencies in the following financial year.
According to sources, from fiscal 2002-03 to 2006-07, the State Government
released Rs 17,640 lakh as MLALAD funds, but Rs 3343.42 lakh of this amount
remained unused. In the fiscal 2006-07 alone, the State Government released Rs
3,780 lakh as MLALAD funds for its 126 Legislative Assembly Constituencies
(LACs), but Rs 1283.42 lakh of the amount remained unused. The worst is that
not a single paisa of MLALAD funds was used during the fiscal 2006-07 in
Dholai, Baitholangshu, Majuli, Dergaon, Jorhat, Bijni, Sidli and Dhemaji LACs.
Meanwhile, the P & D Department recently informed the district administration
that Rs 3,150 lakh was released for the 126 LACs of the State at the rate of Rs
25 lakh per LAC as the first instalment of the MLALAD fund for the fiscal
2007-08. The department, however, made it clear to the deputy commissioners
that all pending schemes up to 2006-07 have to be implemented as per the
standing guidelines, and the entire amount released by December 31, 2007 has to
be used. If any funds of the previous years remain unused, that may be
surrendered and deposited in the State exchequer, the P & D Department said,
and added: The deputy commissioners should furnish the reports of completion
of works along with unutilization certificates in respect of MLALAD funds to it
in due course.
(The Sentinel,15.10.2007)
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