Legislators' area funds underutilised, says minister

Minister for Planning and Statistics M R Seetharam on Monday said many legislators in the state have not been able to spend their local area development fund completely.

Speaking to reporters here, the minister said that of the total Rs 600 crore released by the state government in 2016-17, about Rs 200 crore has remained unutilised. Each of the 300 legislators gets Rs 2 crore every year as local area development fund. Legislators cutting across parties are finding it difficult to spend the money, he added.

He said it is not proper for some legislators to demand that the government increase their local area development fund to Rs 5 crore from Rs 2 crore. Legislators have to follow the guidelines stipulated by the government to spend the money, he added.

Seetharam, who is also Kodagu district in-charge minister, said some NGOs are instigating tribals in Diddalli in Kodagu to protest against the government. Steps have been taken to rehabilitate all the tribal families, he added.