IT News
Thoubal, Mar 3:
Allegations of misappropriation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds have surfaced again after a community office built at Sangaiyumpham, Thoubal District, was found to have cost Rs. 5 lakh despite its iron-sheet walls and galvanized roofing.
The project, sanctioned under the MPLADS fund of former MP Lorho Pfoze, has raised serious concerns among locals, who question whether the allocated funds were properly utilized. Experts suggest that the actual cost of such a structure should not exceed Rs. 70,000, fueling suspicions of fund mismanagement and corruption.
The community office is one of four projects undertaken in Thoubal District under the MPLADS fund. Other projects include a community hall for senior citizens constructed at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh, a waiting shed at Uchanpokpi cemetery for Rs. 5 lakh, and garbage bins at Sangaiyumpham costing Rs. 3 lakh.
Residents and civil society groups are now demanding a thorough investigation into the utilization of MPLADS funds to ensure transparency and accountability. However, authorities have yet to respond to the growing concerns. This incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding MPLADS fund utilization, prompting renewed calls for stricter oversight and auditing mechanisms.