Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics & Programme Implementation Shri Rao Inderjit Singh has said that implementation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities as per the State Government’s technical, administrative and financial rules. Monitoring mechanisms, wherein the roles of the Central Government, State Governments, District Authorities and Implementing Agencies are laid down, have been prescribed in the Guidelines on MPLADS.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Singh said, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation regularly reviews the implementation of the MPLADS through national-level review meetings with State Government/District officers and visits to States/Districts. The Ministry also undertakes third party physical monitoring of the MPLADS works in selected districts through independent agencies. In addition, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C & AG) of India conducted Performance Audit of the MPLADS for the period 2004-05 to 2008-09, and submitted its report in 2010-11.

The Minister said, the observations in the third party physical monitoring reports and in the C & AG’s Performance Audit Report relating to implementation in the field have been/are communicated to the concerned State Governments/District Authorities for taking appropriate action, including penal /departmental action and recoupment of MPLADS funds with interest in case of irregularities.

Implementation oversight of MPLADS: monitoring and audits prompt state action, penal measures and fund recoupment for irregularities. Oversight of MPLADS assigns execution to District Authorities under State rules while the Ministry conducts national reviews, state/district visits and third-party physical monitoring. Findings from independent monitoring and the C&AG performance audit are communicated to State Governments and District Authorities for remedial steps, including penal or departmental proceedings and recoupment of MPLADS funds with interest where irregularities are found.