CAG points violations and irregularities in MPLAD Scheme: Jena

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found some violations of guidelines and irregularities in the implementation of MPLADS scheme during 2004-05 to 2008-09, Parliament was informed today.

"The Comptroller and Auditor General in its performance audit report of 2010-11 for the period 2004-05 to 2008-09 pointed out certain violations of guidelines and irregularities in implementation of MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme)," Minister of State for Statistics Srikant Kumar Jena said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He was replying to a question whether there has been observations and comments of the CAG performance audit report on MPLAD Scheme for 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Jena said "the state government/district authorities have been asked to expedite necessary action to get the CAG audit paras settled as per rules and in case of facts pointing towards malafide violations of guidelines and financial malfeasance, to take appropriate action under law and report on action taken."

MPLADS works are implemented in the field by the state governments of district authorities.

The minister said that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has also considered the CAG report and given its observations and recommendations in its report.

"Action taken notes on all 33 PAC recommendations have been furnished by the Ministry. Vetting comments have been received from Director General of Audit for revising 18 action taken notes," he said.

Jena said the ministry regularly reviews the implementation of the MPLAD Scheme through national level review meetings with state government or district authorities and visits to state or districts.

The ministry also undertakes third party physical monitoring of the MPLADS works in selected districts through independent agencies, he added.