PANAJI
With total allocation of Rs 300 crore across 40 Assembly constituencies under the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) scheme since its inception in 2022, the State Level Scheme Sanction Committee (SLSSC) declared that no additional work proposal would be considered unless the ceiling limit is available for sanctioning.
Under the scheme, the MLAs can get projects worth Rs 2.5 crore sanctioned annually.
As per data, each constituency has got a total allocation of Rs 7.50 crore (Rs 2.250 crore annually since 2022), thus exhausting their ceiling limit till this financial year. Of the 40 constituencies, only Panaji, Vasco and Dabolim, has not submitted a single proposal under the scheme with the entire Rs 7.50 cr each remaining unutilized.
The scheme was notified in December 2022 to enable legislators to undertake various works as deemed necessary in their respective constituencies. The sanctioned projects basically involve repair and construction of roads and bridges, construction of retaining and protection wall, fixing of pavements, improvement of water drainage system, development of parking spaces, etc.
During its last meeting held earlier this month, the SLSS sanctioned works across 22 constituencies of Benaulim, Bicholim, Canacona, Valpoi, Taleigao, St Cruz, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Fatorda, Curtorim, Marcaim, Margao, Mormugao, Pernem, Ponda, Porvorim, Quepem, Sanvordem, Sanguem, Shiroda, St Andre and Velim.
“The Committee approved the proposals for accord of expenditure sanctions for 22 Assembly constituencies…no additional works to be proposed under the scheme until the ceiling limit under the MLA-LAD is available as per guidance,” said PWD Principal Chief Engineer Uttam Parsekar, who is also the secretary of SLCC.
As per the procedure, each MLA has to submit the proposal for in principle approval of the PWD Minister. Once the proposal gets the in principle approval of the Minister the proposal is submitted to the concerned works divisions of the PWD for preparation of detailed estimate and for the technical sanction of the competent authority.
The proposals submitted by the MLAs shall be processed subject to the condition that it is for the benefit of the general public and not for any single beneficiary.
