MPs told to identify nodal districts

The Central government has sought a fresh list of nodal districts of Lok Sabha members under MP Local Area Development Scheme as the MPs will have to change their nodal districts following reorganisation of districts in TS.

According to MPLADS guidelines, every MP has to inform the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the state government and the collector of the district concerned about his or her choice of the nodal district.

If a Lok Sabha constituency is spread over more than one district, the MP can choose any one of the districts as the nodal district.

For example, four of the seven Assembly constituencies in Zaheerabad Lok Sabha constituency in Medak district are in Nizamabad district. The MP can choose Medak or Nizamabad district as his/her nodal district, so that the Central government can release funds. These funds are released to collector of the district concerned and the MP can spend the funds in his or her Lok Sabha constituency.

After the increase in the number of districts from 10 to 31 in TS, the scenario has changed.

Nalgonda district had two Lok Sabha constituencies, and the MPs had selected Nalgonda as their nodal district. After reorganisation of districts, Bhuvanagiri is now part of Yadadri district. Accordingly, the Bhuvanagiri MP is expected to change his nodal district to Yadadri district. Adilabad had only one Lok Sabha constituency, but it is now split into four districts. Officials say that the MPs can continue with their old nodal districts or they can change them.

Under MPLADS, a total of `1,218.19 crore is available with the collectors of 10 old districts. If any MP changes his or her nodal district, the collector will have to transfer the funds to the collector of the district chosen.

FOR EACH Lok Sabha constituency, officials now have to collect data from the 3-4 collectors, prepare report of the funds and expenditure constituencywise and submit it to the Centre.