Not a single Lok Sabha MP in Odisha has been able to achieve cent per cent utilisation MPLAD funds during past five years.
It seems construction of community halls was one of most preferred work for all the 21 Lok Sabha MPs from the State as they sanctioned money for construction 18,994 community halls during their tenure till February 19. These facts have come to the fore in a social audit by Youth for Social Development (YSD) on utilisation of MPLAD funds in State during past five years.
As per the study in total all the Lok Sabha MPs of Odisha have spent 72 per cent of their MPLAD funds. The study has relied on the data available in the website related to utilisation of MPLAD funds till Feb.19 this year. As per the beak up, the State MPs during 14th Lok Sabha spent highest amount of money from their MPLAD funds on other public facilities sector amounting Rs. 237.14 crore, followed by spending on education at Rs.168.93 crore and spending of Rs. 163.72 crore for construction of roads, pathways and bridges.
According to Bibhu Prasad Sahu of the YSD, most interesting fact was that more than one third of the MPLAD funds spending in Odisha was other public facilities, which comprises construction of community centres, building for cultural activities, public libraries, reading rooms, shelters for aged and physically challenged, boundary walls for buildings, bus sheds, crematoriums, public parks etc.
This is in sharp contrast to the fact that the State MPs preferred to use only 1.57 per cent of their MPLAD funds on sports development, only 1.58 per cent on key sectors like public health and sanitation. It may be noted that usually it is alleged that MPLAD funds is at times used for construction works at religious centres in the name of building of community halls.
As per the study in case of the MPs from the ruling BJD, the first time MPs spent less amount from their MPLAD fund in comparison to the experienced MPs of the party. But among the Congress MPs first timers had better utilisation of MPLAD funds, the YSD study said.
The MPs from northern Odisha were found to have spent 74.52 per cent of their funds and topped in the region-wise spending. The MPs from Central Odisha and southern Odisha spent 73 per cent and 71.47 per cent of their MPLAD funds respectively, while the western region MPs spent 69.75 per cent of their MPLAD fund.
The Congress MP of Sambalpur topped the list in MPLAD utilisation with use of 90.42 per cent of the funds allocated to him. The BJD MP of Koraput, Jayaram Pangi, was found to be lowest user of MPLAD funds as he has utilised only 52.87 per cent.
