Centre allows MPs to provide Rs 50 Lakh each for Uttarakhand

Members from Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha collectively will be able to recommend works worth up to Rs 361 crore

Opening another window of relief for flood ravaged Uttarakhand, Centre today allowed Members of Parliament to recommend for relief work in the state as much as Rs 50 lakh each from their constituency development fund.

"The Members of Parliament can recommend works up to a maximum of Rs 50 Lakh for the flash floods, landslides or cloudburst affected areas of Uttarakhand," the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said in a statement.

At present, there are 539 members in Lok Sabha and 243 members in the Rajya Sabha. All of them collectively will be able to recommend works worth up to Rs 361 crore for affected areas in Uttarakhand.

In a letter written to MPs, Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister Srikant Kumar Jena has asked them to use the funds up to Rs 50 lakh each under the MPLAD scheme for recommending various works in the state.

"Flash floods/landslides and cloudburst have caused severe destruction in Uttarakhand. Considering its intensity and magnitude, Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that this is a calamity of severe nature for all practical purposes.

"Accordingly, as per para 2.8 of guidelines on MPLADS, MPs can recommend works up to a maximum of Rs 50 Lakh for the affected areas of Uttarakhand," Jena said in the letter.

The Minister also urged all the MPs to indicate the amount they wish to contribute for such works at the earliest.

"Consent letters in a prescribed format from MPs may be addressed to the respective Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha Committee on MPLADS so that further action can be taken on priority," the statement said.

Under the MPLAD scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector works to the tune of Rs five crore per annum to be taken up in his or her constituency.

The Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha can recommend works in any one or more districts in the state from where he or she has been elected.

The nominated MPs of both the Houses may select any one or more districts from any one state in the country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.

According to statement, Jena has given his consent for release of Rs 10 lakh from his MPLADS funds for the rehabilitation works in Uttarakhand.