Gujarat Rajya Sabha MPs utilised only ₹52 crore out of ₹208 crore MPLADS funds

Eleven Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat have utilised only ₹52.1 crore out of the total ₹208.15 crore allocated to them under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), official data showed.

The data comes ahead of the completion of the Rajya Sabha (RS) tenure of four Members of Parliament (MPs) from Gujarat in June.

Under the MPLADS scheme, MPs are entitled to recommend development works worth up to ₹5 crore annually in their respective states or constituencies.

The funds are generally used for projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, drinking water facilities, community halls, street lighting and sports infrastructure.

Among Gujarat’s RS MPs, Ramilaben Bara recorded the highest utilisation, spending ₹15.38 crore, or nearly 78.5%, out of the ₹19.60 crore allocated to her.

Babubhai J Desai ranked second with utilisation of 44.40% of allocated funds, followed by Narhari Amin at 41.10%.

Shaktisinh Gohil utilised 32.60% of the funds, while Rambhai Mokaria used 26.20%.

Other MPs recorded lower utilisation levels. Jaswantsinh Parmar used 18.20% of the grant, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar 13.20%, Govindbhai Dholakia 12.80%, Mayank Nayak 9.10% and Kesaridevsinh Zala 7.10%.

According to the data, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda received ₹14.70 crore under the scheme but had not utilised any amount so far.

Officials clarified that MPLADS funds are not transferred directly to MPs. Instead, MPs recommend projects, after which district administrations and collectors examine proposals, prepare technical estimates, appoint implementing agencies and release funds.

The works are subsequently audited upon completion.

Officials said delays in project approvals, tendering procedures, audit-related issues and administrative processes were among the reasons why allocated funds sometimes remain unutilised.

The RS terms of Shaktisinh Gohil, Narhari Amin, Rambhai Mokaria and Ramilaben Bara are scheduled to end in June.