Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 5
Even as the five-year term of local MP Kirron Kher is nearing an end, about 65 per cent of the development works she recommended under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) are either pending or have been dropped.
As per figures provided by the MP’s office, Kirron had recommended a total of 315 works to the UT Deputy Commissioner (DC), the nodal officer, since she assumed the office in 2014.
However, only 113 works could be completed till date. A total of 174 works are said to be under progress and 28 recommended works were dropped due to various issues, including viability and approval.
Speaking to Chandigarh Tribune today, Kirron Kher said, “I recommended a number of projects, but some of them were dropped by the DC. I was given reasons like unavailability of land or approval.”
“However, I have been able to get roads built at places like Deep Complex at Hallo Majra, Makhan Majra, Mani Majra, Bhelana and Daria. Some stretches at these places were in the need of roads for the last several years. I also got paver blocks laid wherever required. Besides, I spent on community centre buildings, renovation of crematorium, open air gyms, mast lights, development of parks and societies of southern sectors,” the MP said.
Officials said development works take time. First, the proposal has to be sent to the department concerned after getting due approvals. Then, the department concerned floats tenders and the works are allotted.
Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Singh Brar did not respond to phone calls made to him for his comments.
Released Rs 20 cr for works
According to the figures procured from Kirron Kher’s office, the MP had got Rs 22.5 crore from the Central government under the MPLADS. Of this, Rs 20 crore had been released by her for various works.
Besides, she exhausted the unspent fund of Rs 4 crore pertaining to the tenure of her predecessor Pawan Kumar Bansal.
“The pending amount was meant for a planetarium to be constructed at Panjab University. However, the matter got stuck in the Senate meeting,” said the former Congress MP.
Bansal said, “Whether it is related to the UT Administration or the Municipal Corporation, these works really take time. In such a scenario, one should recommend works early so that these could be processed quickly. As far as I am concerned, I used to take one meeting with officers in a month or two.”
Slamming the slow pace of work, RK Garg, president, Second Innings Association, a body of senior citizens, commented, “This depicts the negative approach of the DC office and the Administration. When funds are available, why are officers not executing development works?”
How MPLADS funds are spent
Each year, an MP gets Rs 5 crore from the Centre under the MPLADS to be spent in his/her constituency. Unutilised funds are carried forward. The MP sends the work demand to the nodal officer i.e. the DC. The officer prepares the plan as per the norms and sends it to the MP, who gives approval as per the availability of funds.