The details of funds released during the last three financial years under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) are as follows:

1. 2001-02 - Rs. 1800 crore

2. 2002-03 - Rs. 1600 crore

3. 2003-04 - Rs. 1682 crore

The cumulative figures of expenditure since the inception of the Scheme in 1993 till the period March 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are given below:

Main reasons for delay in the implementation of works under Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme are:

1. Delay in processing recommendations received from the Members of Parliament by District Administration;

2. Delay in preparation of estimates by the concerned implementing agencies;

3. Delay in issue of financial sanction by the District Administration;

4. Non-compliance of time frame by the Implementing Agencies;

5. Delay in transfer of funds from the nodal district to implementing district;

6. Non-submission of expenditure statement to the Government of India; and

7. Non-availability and delay in acquisition of land.

The Government have taken steps to speed up the implementation of works. The State Governments have been advised to follow strictly the provisions of the Guidelines including those relating to monitoring of works and implement works recommended by Members of parliament expeditiously. The Districts Administration have been advised to sanction works to the extent of their entitlement without waiting for actual release of funds and submit the expenditure report expeditiously. They also have been advised to evolve a time frame for implementation keeping in view the nature of the works. Special review meetings were also held from time to time to ensure expeditious implementation of the recommended works.

This information was given by the Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Independent Charge), Shri Oscar Fernandes in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.