Hyderabad: The state government has doubled Constituency Development Fund of MLAs and MLCs from Rs 1.50 crore to Rs 3 crore per year and accorded them full powers on utilisation of these funds. Orders to this effect were issued on Thursday.
Earlier, MLAs or MLCs could only propose works worth 50 per cent of the total funds and approval of the district minister was required for the rest. This is said to be the highest in the country for MLAs/ MLCs since the Centre gives Rs 5 crore to an MP, who represents as many as seven Assembly constituencies in his or her Parliamentary constituency.
The MLAs and MLCs had been requesting Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for increase in CDF, to do away with minister’s approval for spending 50 per cent funds and power to spend 100 per cent funds.
Mr Chandrasekhar Rao agreed to all these requests and directed the finance department to double the funds and allot to the planning department, which will monitor the implementation of the scheme.
Earlier, MLAs and MLCs had the power to propose works worth Rs 75 lakh per year, this has now been increased to Rs 3 crore. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao asked the MLAs and MLCs to utilise these funds to the maximum possible extent for the overall development of their constituencies.
