Allow MPLAD to be utilised for repairs: MP

Members of Parliament should be allowed to utilise MPLAD Fund for repair and maintenance of community assets which is not permitted as of now as per the guidelines, INLD member Ram Kumar Kashyap said in Rajya Sabha today.
"...I want to draw the attention of the government towards MPLAD scheme...According to the guidelines (of the scheme), a Member of Parliament uses MPLAD Fund for building sustainable community assets. But there is no provision of using the MPLAD Fund for the repair of already built assets," Kashyap said in his maiden Zero Hour mention.
Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme envisages creating new assets and leaves their maintenance to the users, state governments, in this case.

Under the scheme, started in 1993, a Member of Parliament is allocated a sum of Rs five crore per year for the development of his/her area or constituency, the Member of Parliament said.
In the absence of funds for repair, after a lapse of five to six years these assets do not remain in a condition to be used, he added.
Citing an example, he said in Haryana the 'Choupals' built for SC and OBC community are in bad shape due to lack of maintenance.
"When a Member of Parliament goes for a round of his area/constituency, the general public requests the MP for the maintenance of these assets. We feel helpless," he said.

"...I request that the MPs should be allowed to use MPLAD Fund for renovation repair of these asssets for a fixed time so that these assets are in a condition to be used," he stressed.