MLAs and MLCs in Telangana are found to be stingy in spending funds allocated to them. A Right to Information (RTI) was filed seeking the quantum of funds allocated to MLAs and MLCs since formation of Telangana in 2014-15 to 2018-19 financial year. It revealed that Rs 1,440 crore was allocated to MLAs and Rs 460.50 crore to MLCs in the five years, totaling Rs 1900.50 crore.
Development goes for a toss
The state government allocates Rs 3 crore to every MLA and MLC per year under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to take up public utility works in their respective constituencies. These funds are supposed to be spent for developmental works like cement roads, kachha roads, drainage, bus shelters, etc. Several MLAs and MLCs are complaining that the government has not allocated a single rupee so far after it came to power the second time. But it should be noted that legislators of the previous government failed to spend Rs 698.57 crore. As a result, development has not taken place in many constituencies. While MLAs spent only Rs 947.85 crore out of Rs 1,440 crore sanctioned to them, MLCs could spend only Rs 254.08 crore out of Rs 460.50 crore.
Corona impact
The government says the state’s financial condition went haywire owing to two months coronavirus lockdown and drying up of revenue. Sources in the government cite this as the reason for not sanctioning funds under CDF to legislators in the financial year 2019-20. On the other hand, the Union government too stopped sanction of MPLADS (MP Local Area Development) funds to MPs on the pretext of corona crisis. It is unlikely that developmental works will see the light of the day anytime soon as governments turned off the fund tap.
