Nearly 50 per cent of MLA funds remain unused

'Little progress in development projects'

Even though plenty of funds have been released for various development works, under MLAs’ constituency development plans, the executing agencies have failed in completing the projects.

Since the year 2009-10 till date, Rs 58.90 crore has been released under MLAs’ funds for seven Assembly constituencies in the district. However only Rs 31.15 crore — 52.88 per cent — has been utilised. Almost all projects approved under MLAs’ funds are executed by government agencies such as Nirmithi Kendra, Land Army and Engineering division of the Zilla Panchayat. However, they have failed in executing the projects on time.

The funds of the MLAs, most of whom have already become ex-MLAs, is yet to be spent. The MLAs’ funds was just Rs 50 lakh in 2009-10. Following repeated demands by MLAs, it was increased to Rs 1 crore in 2010-11. Further, it was hiked to Rs 2 crore in 2013-14. But, when it comes to development, there has been no similar progress, said an official, on condition of anonymity.

He said, even the MLAs concerned have not bothered to follow-up the progress of the works, so the funds are just lying in the account of the district administration.

Former Nagamangala MLA K Suresh Gowda had released a total of Rs 2.50 crore, but Rs 1.91 crore has been spent so far. The figures are Rs 2.50 crore against Rs 1.64 crore; and Rs 2.50 crore against Rs 1.41 crore for former MLAs K B Chandrasekhar of K R Pet and Kalpana Siddaraju of Maddur. While former MLA M Srinivas had released Rs 2.10 crore, 16 more works are pending.

Malavalli MLA P M Narendraswamy has so far released Rs 5.50 crore, but only Rs 2.20 crore has been spent. For Nagamanagala, N Chaluvarayaswamy has released Rs 3 crore, however Rs 1.69 crore is spent. 

The progress in Srirangapatna of Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda; Mandya, represented by District in-charge Minister Ambarish are: Rs 5.50 crore and Rs 3.87 crore; and Rs 3 crore and Rs 77.89 lakh; respectively. Maddur of D C Thammanna has released Rs 1.50 crore, but 33 works are pending.