MLA LAD scheme revised for better utilisation of funds

The Delhi Government's Urban Development Department has issued comprehensive and revised instructions for better, rational and scientific utilisation of MLA LAD (local area development) fund to ensure that residents benefit from infrastructure development at the earliest, Delhi Finance and Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia has said.

The Minister said it has also been decided to include three additional works in the list of permissible works under MLALAD fund taking up the permissible items from 24 to 27. The new permissible works are mobile vans for public library, benches for public parks and installation of portable cabins with over 20 years of durability on government land.

Dr. Walia said the new instructions will facilitate timely execution of works by various agencies. He said the MLAs will continue to be sanctioned MLALAD fund of Rs.2 crore per annum for their respective constituency. Now this fund will be divided into two parts -- mandatory fund and discretionary fund of Rs.1 crore each.

Two parts

The mandatory fund of Rs.70 crore per annum will be directly released to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board for execution of developmental works as proposed by the MLAs of the respective Assembly constituencies. While Rs.67 crore will be released to the MCD, Rs. 2 crore would go to the NDMC and Rs.1 crore to the DCB.

The remaining amount of Rs.70 crore per annum will be sanctioned as the discretionary fund through the Urban Development Department for execution of developmental works by various executing agencies and departments such as the MCD, NDMC, power distribution companies, Delhi Jal Board, Irrigation and Flood Control, Slum and JJ and others like Health, Delhi Development Authority, DCB and Central Public Works Department on the recommendations of MLAs after obtaining detailed cost estimates and layout plans from the concerned executing agencies.

The local bodies will issue sanction orders for all developmental works as per the guidelines of MLALAD scheme regarding the mandatory fund and monitor its progress regularly. They will also open a separate bank account for mandatory portion of the MLALAD for members of the fourth Delhi Legislative Assembly.