Bandi Sanjay says 94% MPLADS funds already committed

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has rejected a report by the Empowered Indian organisation that alleged MPs were lagging in utilising funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). He termed the report “misleading” and said it failed to take into account the progress of works and the approval process involved in implementing MPLADS projects.Citing his Karimnagar parliamentary constituency as an example, he claimed ₹17.50 crore had been allocated under MPLADS for the 18th Lok Sabha, of which works worth ₹16.47 crore, or 94.1%, had already been taken up. Over the last three years, he had submitted 627 proposals to District Collectors based on public requests for community halls, borewells, high-mast lights and CC roads. These include