Over the last five years, the Members of Parliament of the city’s three Lok Sabha constituencies have utilised their Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds on routine development works, according to data accessed by The Hindu .
The largest of the projects to date is the allocation of Rs. 9.5 crore by Central Chennai-sitting MP Dayanidhi Maran for the construction of an additional overbridge at Perambur Loco Works. The other two MPs have allotted funds for projects such as the construction of additional classrooms in schools, construction of community halls, and overbridges.
The data provided by the Chennai Corporation on utilisation of the MPLAD funds shows that North Chennai MP T.K.S. Elangovan has left an amount of Rs. 7.56 crore unutilised, while Central Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran and South Chennai MP Chitlapakkam C. Rajendran have left Rs. 2.81 crore and Rs. 88 lakh unutilised, respectively.
Mr. Elangovan — who has spent a major amount of his allotted funds of Rs. 19.55 crore for measures to prevent sea erosion in fishing hamlets in Tiruvottiyur and Mastan Koil — said that the MPs in the city are constrained by administrative controls. With the regime change in the Corporation in 2011, several suggested development works were rejected by the Corporation on various grounds, he said.
Similarly, sources from Mr. Maran’s office while denying that there was any balance amount in his MPLAD funds, said several civic projects proposed by the MP were rejected by the civic body. In addition to the Perambur Loco overbridge, Mr. Maran spent funds on the construction of a vehicular bridge across the Cooum River in Mehta Nagar, Choolaimedu, at a cost of Rs. 3 crore; on purchasing six super-sucker machines (for road-cleaning) for the six Assembly constituencies for Rs. 2 crore; and on the renovation of the Villivakkam bus terminus at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh.
Mr. Rajendran, representing South Chennai constituency, spent funds on several projects, notable among them being the construction of a community hall in Perumbakkam at a cost of Rs. 95 lakh, and one hospital each in Sholinganallur and Virugambakkam at a total cost of Rs. 1.15 crore.
