Delay in MPLAD projects will not be tolerated: Baijayant Panda

Kendrapara: MP Baijayant Panda who reviewed the projects implemented under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme in his constituency said delay in such projects will not be tolerated.

“The projects that are delayed due to some political interests will not be tolerated. I have given instruction to the Collector; the administration will take strict action,” said Panda.

Kendrapara Collector and other administrative officials were present in the review meeting.

While 266 projects are being funded through the MPLAD scheme in Kendrapara district, only 135 projects have been completed till date. Work on 76 projects is in progress and 55 projects are inactive.

The MP instructed the district Collector to complete the projects that are inactive due to local problems and political reasons.

After the meeting, Panda informed that the projects in Kendrapara and Cuttack district, under Kendrapara constituency, have progressed a lot.

Drinking water projects like overhead water tanks are being constructed at various places that are benefiting thousands of families and few more small and medium projects are underway, he informed.

Speaking on the meeting Panda said, “The target of today’s meeting was how to lay special focus on the panchayats that were ignored for long and ways to link development projects with some government projects.”

Panda informed that the biggest MPLAD-funded project is the Multipurpose Auditorium also known as Sanskriti Bhawan. While government has provided Rs 20 lakh for it, nearly Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned from the MPLAD fund. The auditorium in Kendrapara will be at par with Jaydev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.

“I hope that the auditorium will benefit the district a lot, big events and functions, including national level functions can be held here,” said Panda.

The MP further added that barring one or two places, all the projects are successful in the district.