Over Rs 26,000 cr released under MPLAD scheme till August: Government

NEW DELHI: The government today said Rs 26,237.25 crore was released till August-end this year under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development ( MPLAD) scheme for development works like drinking water facility, education irrigation, roads, pathways and bridges.

"As on August 31, 2012, an amount of Rs 26,237.25 crore has been released since inception of the MPLAD scheme, out of which Rs 23,255.28 crore has been utilised," an official statement said here.

It further stated that the cumulative utilisation percentage over cumulative release has risen steadily to 88.63 per cent now against 82.18 per cent as in March 2004.

According to the statement, about 15.32 lakh works have been recommended, 13.50 lakh works were sanctioned and about 12.14 lakh works have been completed, since inception of the scheme.

The percentage of cumulative works completed to cumulative works sanctioned is 89.86 per cent as on August 31, 2012, against 80.14 per cent as in March, 2004.

Under the MPLAD Scheme, started in December, 1993, each member of both the Houses gets Rs 5 crore every year for taking up developmental works in their respective constituencies.