Each member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly is allowed Rs 5 crore per year for asset development in his constituency since 2012, when the United Democratic Front was in power. Thiruvananthapuram: More than Rs 500 crore meant for local area development across Kerala is hung in the balance thanks to bureaucratic apathy. Various projects have hit a roadblock as officials sit on the legislators’ proposals to utilize the asset development fund since 2012, prompting the finance department to ask for the fresh submission of project proposals before October 31 so as not to let the fund lapse.
Each member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly is allowed Rs 5 crore per year for asset development in his constituency since 2012, when the United Democratic Front was in power. District-level officers in the department concerned were supposed to frame proposals and get them approved by the finance department.
The lapses have prompted the government to amend the process of clearing the asset development fund. Collectors in each district, not the finance department, will be responsible for approving the projects under the MLA fund from this financial year.
Onmanorama does not yet know how many projects are pending the administrative approval but many legislators have been denied most of the Rs 20 crore entitled to their constituency because the project reports were not submitted on time.
The delay means a monumental waste in some cases as most of the projects proposed five years ago are no longer relevant. The finance department has made it clear that it would not entertain a change in proposals. The people’s representatives are not allowed to merge funds from two years. An MLA, however, can resubmit a proposal made by his predecessor.
The proposals made between 2012 and 2015 have to be resubmitted for the administrative approval of the finance department. Projects proposed in the last financial year has one more month’s time. They have to get administrative clearance before November 30.
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