Govt wants MPLAD funds to be used for drought

New Delhi: The spectre of a severe drought is looming large and water not only for irrigation but drinking could become scarce. Though the Centre has started sending out teams to the three worst hit states it wants Members of Parliament to pitch in with their Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds for projects to provide drinking water, especially as central funds may take much longer to reach villages.

"There will be some procedural delay. It will take some time before relief reaches the effected," said Agriculture Commissioner, N B Singh.

The districts administrations are being asked to examine and clear drinking water projects on a priority basis. The guideline for utilisation of these funds are also being changed to allow re-boaring of hand pumps under the scheme. About 50 per cent of the pumps in rural India don't function due to fall in the ground water level.

"MPLAD funds mein repairing ka kaam sanction nahi hota. Re-boaring repairing nahi hai, reboaring ko fresh work mana chahiye, aisa maine apne department mein kaha tha (Repairing work is not sanctioned in MPLAD funds. Re-boaring is not repairing, re-boaring should be treated as fresh work is what I have said in my department)", Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Sriprakash Jaiswal

The MPs at the moment are given Rs 2 crore every year to spend on the development of their constituency which means about Rs 1,600 crore every year is spent by the Government through this scheme.

More than 90 per cent of this money is being used in the stipulated time. So a proposal is already being sent to planning commission to increase this amount to Rs 5 crore per annum, as the Government eagerly awaits the judgment on a litigation in the Supreme Court to abolish this fund.

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