The 15th lok Sabha is short of just eight months to complete its term but the Members of Parliament (MP) from Punjab have failed to utilise over 29 per cent of the total funds under MP local Area Development Scheme (MPlADS).
With 13 people’s representatives in the lower House, Punjab is entitled to Rs 247 crore — the cumulative total from 2009 to 2013 — under the MPlADS with each MP getting Rs 19 crore.
As per the data released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Central Government has released Rs 190.80 crore with interest to the State’s MPs. Out of this; work of Rs 131.14 crore has been carried out. The amount unspent by the parliamentarians from the State stands at Rs 59.66 crore.
Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest the district collector to initiate development work to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum in his or her constituency.
From Punjab, Congress has eight MPs, while Shiromani Akali Dal has four besides an MP from BJP.
According to the data regarding release and expenditure of the MPlAD funds, the least spender is Union Minister of State of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari, MP from ludhiana. Of the available amount of Rs 11.95 crore, the MP has sent only Rs 4.74 crore.
He is closely followed by Vijay Inder Singla, Congress MP from Sangrur, who has so far spent Rs 9.61 crore of the Rs 17.02 crore released by the Centre; and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Sukhdev Singh libra who has utilised development funds with 58.61 per cent spending and unspent amount of Rs 7.46 crore.
On the other hand, topping the chart for utilising maximum funds is Akali MP from Faridkot reserve constituency Paramjit Kaur Gulshan for utilising 99.86 per cent of Rs 14.51 crore available with her as MPlAD fund. She has an unspent amount of Rs 53 lakh.
Following her closely is another Akali MP from Khadoor Sahib Rattan Singh Ajnala who has spent 96 per cent of his available amount of Rs 14.46 crore, with unspent amount of Rs 1.02 crore.
Having a look on the statement of cumulative expenditure of the MPs indicate that SAD-BJP parliamentarians have performed quite better in utilising their funds, in comparison to that of Congress. None of the Akali MP has utilisation of less than 55 per cent.
Badal bahu, SAD MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has 68.27 per cent utilisation with still Rs 4.15 crore lying unspent with her. Sher Singh Gubaya, Ferozpur MP, has 70.36 per cent utilisation with unspent amount of Rs 5.34 crore, while BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu has an outstanding Rs 3.32 crore which he failed to spend with 74.4 per cent utilisation.
Among Congress MPs, Patiala MP Maharani Preneet Kaur is leading with 86.36 per cent utilisation and an unspent amount of Rs 2.72 crore. She is closely followed by Punjab Congress chief and Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa with 85.13 per cent utilisation and an unspent amount of Rs 2.21 crore.
Recently inducted into Union Cabinet, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Chowdhary has utilisation percentage of 64.06. MP from Hoshiarpur reserve constituency still has an unspent amount of Rs 6.31 crore.
Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee has Rs 5.60 crore lying unspent with 60.87 per cent utilisation, Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu has Rs 6.92 crore unspent amount with 61.03 per cent utilisation.