Suspended in April, govt restores MLALAD fund

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 18

The state government today restored the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund, which was put on hold in April.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur made the announcement on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha. “It has been decided that the MLALAD fund, which was suspended following a decision by the Cabinet on April 7, will be restored. We will provide Rs 50 lakh this year in two equal installments,” said Thakur.

‘Govt progressive’

Shimla: Welcoming the restoration of the MLALAD Fund, BJP state president Suresh Kashyap said on Friday that the government was responsive and progressive. “It is commendable how the government has acted during the Covid-19 situation. The steps taken by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have been appreciated by the Centre also,” he said. To mark ‘Seva Saptah’, the youth wing of the BJP held blood donation camps in all 17 organisational districts and collected more than 645 units of blood. TNS

He said that the fund, which is utilised by MLAs for various development works in their Assembly segments, was being restored on the demand of the legislators from both sides. Lawmakers get an annual MLALAD fund of Rs 1.75 crore for undertaking development works.

“The fund was suspended in view of the Covid-induced economic crisis, but the able fiscal management and proper monitoring of the situation helped improve and stabilise the condition,” said the Chief Minister. He added that while the first installment of Rs 25 lakh would be released in October, the second one would be released after the panchayati raj elections later this year.

Thakur said that it was decided in April that the fund would suspended for two years. He added that the government expenditure in the first five months of this financial year was far more than the expenditure in the corresponding period last year.