NEW DELHI, July 19: Several MPs have spent large chunks of money from the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) on construction of temples, mosques and churches. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has cited 64 instances of money having been spent -- contrary to the guidelines -- on works relating to religious places. These instances were found while the CAG conducted a sample survey in 14 districts of six states. The CAG estimates that the actual number of such cases all over the country would be much higher.The MPs get a sum of Rs one crore every year under the MPLADS. As per regulations, the money can only be spent on development works in the constituency and a specific rule prohibits spending of any part of the money on places of religious worship.
The CAG auditors suspect that the amount actually spent on religious places would be much more than the figure of Rs 58.75 lakh -- a sum for which they managed to get records and documents. The bulk of the amount -- Rs 24.09 lakh -- wasrecommended by Congress MP Santosh Mohan Dev from Tripura on 14 works in Tripura (West) which included construction at the Manipuri Nath mandir in Radhnagar. Construction was allowed at Mahamuni Tilla Buddhist temple complex in Tripura (South) at a cost of Rs 1.55 lakh.
The BJP MP from Almora Jeewan Sharma spent Rs 80,000 on beautification of a Ram mandir in his constituency in 1995-96. A Nagaland People's Council (NPC) MP Imchalemba representing Kohima recommended works at the cost of Rs 10.64 lakh on construction of churches, approach roads and boundary walls for churches. In Balsasore, a record number of 21 religious works were approved by Congress MP Kartik Mahapatra. However, his choice of works included construction of compound wall of Sahaspur mosque, construction of Sankeswar Mahadev temple, Mahalakshmi Mandap, a Kali temple at Tikarapada and Alekh Brahma Math at Khurda.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
