Saleng A Sangma, Member of Parliament from Tura, has raised concerns about the delays in completing some of the projects under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), some are even pending for over 20 years. During a review meeting with the State Level Monitoring Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, it was decided that all pending projects must submit their utilization certificates by December.
After attending a review meeting of the state level monitoring committee (SLMC) on Monday, Sangma said, “There are pending works from 2002 till date. I was wondering why after 20 years also, there are pending works of MPLADS despite the amount to be implemented is small. I don’t know what’s wrong with the system. 22 years is a joke.”
According to him, some of the pending works are of Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh.
“We have reviewed and the chief secretary has directed all the deputy commissioners to make sure that all pending works should be completed by December itself,” he added.
Sangma said there was an incomplete project at a college at Rongjeng. “They have spent around Rs 8.50 lakh out of Rs 10 lakh and yet it is not completed.”
Asked, the MP said maybe his predecessors have given to the wrong beneficiaries, who have failed to implement the projects.
“Since this is my first time meeting with the implementing agencies… It actually struck me why small works are still pending till date. I thought they might have a meeting about the new schemes but it is a review about the old schemes, which are yet to be completed,” he said. He added, “I don’t want to blame anybody right now. Previous MPs had already given to most of the beneficiaries but it seems that the beneficiaries have not completed their work.”
Stating that MPLADS is a very small scheme, Saleng said, “It is just to fill up the gap where some of the areas which are not getting from any other scheme like for example PWD, PHE, education, soil department – so those are the gaps. It is only Rs 5 crore for whole district. In my constituency, there are five districts, which we have to look after the whole area and moreover here likewise it is not that big but whatever it will definitely benefit the people at large.”