By Vishal Gulati
Chandigarh, Mar 28 (IANS): BJP MP Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh is the only MP in Haryana who utilised his 100 per cent funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the past five years.
According to official figures, his fund utilization over the allocated amount in the past five years was the highest at 102.16 per cent in Haryana among 10 Lok Sabha lawmakers.
Singh has allocated Rs 27.71 crore, while the unspent balance with the district authorities is Rs 2.28 crore, the lowest among his contemporaries.
Despite the optimum utilization of his discretionary funds, voters paint a dark picture of his constituency.
Under the MPLADS, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for works to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency.
Rural road networks in Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts are dotted with large potholes.
Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Kurukshetra, Raj Kumar Saini, who has not only been critical of the party's central and state leadership for over four years but has also floated a new Loktantra Suraksha Party, came second in sanctioning funds.
His allocation of funds was to the tune of Rs 20.33 crore and his fund utilisation over the allocated amount was 91.07 per cent.
The unspent balance with the district authorities is Rs 2.19 crore.
BJP MP Ashwani Kumar has allocated Rs 18.66 crore in his Karnal constituency with the unspent balance with the government being Rs 4.50 crore.
He was the lowest among the MPs with regard to allocation of his discretionary funds.
Congress young turk Deepender Singh Hooda allocated Rs 22.87 crore for his Rohtak constituency.
His fund utilization over the allocated amount was 82.72 per cent. The unspent balance with the district authorities is Rs 3.70 crore, the sixth lowest among the lawmakers.
Dushyant Chautala, the young MP from Hisar, who was elected in 2014 on an Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket and has since floated the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), has allocated Rs 24.64 crore during his stint.
The fund utilization in Hisar over the allocated amount was 83.04 per cent while the unspent balance with the district authorities is Rs 3.56 crore.
The government released Rs 201.47 crore of the Rs 230.01 crore from 2014 to 2019 and the unspent amount with the district authorities stood at Rs 37.83.54 crore.
Elections for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana are due on May 12.