Thursday, August 17 2006 14:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government is not considering raising the amount of Rs two crore allotted to Members of Parliament (MPs) for local area development, Rajya Sahba was informed today (Aug 17, 2006).

"At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to raise this amount," Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan said replying to supplementaries during Question Hour.

He said the budget for 2006-07 made a provision of Rs 1580 crore at the rate of Rs two crore per MP under the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

"Government is presently engaged in increasing transparency and accountability of the scheme," he said.

Since inception, Rs 15486.70 crore have been released under MPLADS. Against this, the total expenditure was Rs 13,709 crore, he said.

"There is no political colour, for or against MPLADS," he said adding the scheme was best among most of the central schemes.

He denied that district administration, the implementing agency of MPLADS, was not showing enough interest. MPLADS has been invoking adequate interest among district authorities in the country. All states and union territories utilise the MPLADS fund for works recommended by Members of Parliament as per laid down guidelines.

The Minister said the MP sanctioning public work under MPLADS is supposed to be invited by the district administration when the facility is inaugurated.