Flashing a poor show in implementation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund, Odisha holds on to a dubious rank of number three from bottom in proportion of unutilised MPLAD funds during 16th Lok Sabha (LS). The shocker is Odisha fared poorer than even Bihar in MPLAD implementation.
According to latest data available, against release of Rs 400crore under MPLAD in Odisha for 16th LS, a high of around 19 per cent or nearly Rs 77crore lies unutilised till January first week, which is 3rd worst nationally.
The bottleneck in implementation is the implementing authority, the district administration itself. The district administration acts as speed breaker as it fails in submitting UCs (utilisation certificates), eligible MPR (monthly progress reports) and audit certification to the Centre. Under the MPLAD, MPs have a recommendatory role. The district administration is responsible for implementation of the recommended projects.
However, inertia in district administration is not a self-manifested trait. There is a political story behind. It was observed that high unspent balance is recorded in constituencies having power tussle between ruling party MP and MLAs or where a MP is likely to be replaced in 2019.
The acuteness is installment of MPLAD funds in ‘conflict-constituencies’ were pending since 2016-17. A glance at constituencies reveals the list of Koraput MP Jhina Hikaka, Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satapathy, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, Sambalpur MP Nagendra Pradhan, Bramhapur MP Siddhant Mahapatra and former Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda, who have instalments pending since 2016-17 and 17-18. The average unspent balance in the accounts of aforementioned MPs is around Rs 5crore, except Mohapatra and Satpathy.
Hikaka, who shot to limelight following abduction by Maoists, topped the ‘victim’ list with unspent balance of around Rs 5.49 crore.
Power tussle between MP and MLAs of ruling BJD was more glaring in instance of Jay Panda following physical assault and verbal spats in case of Mahatab and Satpathy etc. While instalments against Hikaka and Satpathy are pending since 2016-17, instalments were pending for MPs like Mohapatra, Mahatab, Pradhan and Panda since financial year 2017-18. Interestingly, BJD workers in Koraput and Bramhapur are publicly claiming that both MPs will be dropped in 2019.
As a result of political tussle, Odisha saw a fall in sanctioned project costs to total projects sanctioned under vital sectors like water and roads in 16th LS, as ratios dipped to 0.3 per cent from 4 per cent and around 13 per cent from 23 per cent, respectively, in 15th LS.
Rueful fact is Odisha finished last in country in MPLAD fund utilisation for priority sectors like drinking water. Till January first week end, the State with a mere around Rs1.18crore utilisation for drinking water stood last nationally. Odisha fared even poorer than hilly State like Sikkim.
Interestingly, when CM Naveen Patnaik is going all out to project Odisha a sports hub nationally, the MPLAD utilisation under sports in State stood at mere Rs 1.8 crore vis-Ã -vis Rs 11.9 crore in Punjab