Jammu Kashmir MP Ghulam Ali Khatana Allocates Majority of MPLADS Funds to Uttar Pradesh

Jammu Kashmir MP Ghulam Ali Khatana Allocates Majority of MPLADS Funds to Uttar Pradesh

Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Ali Khatana has recommended 176 development projects under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) since his nomination to the Upper House in 2022. Of these, 144 projects were proposed for Uttar Pradesh and 32 for Jammu and Kashmir. Within Uttar Pradesh, 139 recommendations were made for Shahjahanpur district, while the remaining proposals were spread across Pilibhit, Chandauli and Badaun. In Jammu and Kashmir, the projects cover the districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri. Khatana currently serves as a nominated Rajya Sabha member and as secretary and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit.
resident of Bathindi in Jammu, Khatana joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2008 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President in 2022. Under MPLADS guidelines, nominated members can recommend development works in any state or district. The scheme allocates Rs 5 crore annually to each MP for public infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water supply, community facilities, schools and health infrastructure. Data from the MPLADS portal show that Khatana recommended 139 works in Shahjahanpur, three in Pilibhit, one each in Chandauli and Badaun, and in Jammu and Kashmir 17 in Jammu district, six in Samba, one in Kathua, six in Poonch and two in Rajouri.

Out of the projects funded through his allocation, 150 have been completed, although photographs of only 12 finished works have been uploaded to the MPLADS portal. Under scheme rules, district administrations are responsible for uploading images after project completion. Khatana said recommendations are made based on public requests received during his political and organisational engagements or as identified by party inputs, adding that additional proposals are planned for Jammu and Kashmir.

Financial records indicate that approximately Rs 12.59 crore has been spent on approved works since 2022. Funds have been released for 153 projects, of which 150 are completed and three remain in progress. Of the completed works, 143 are located in Uttar Pradesh and seven in Jammu and Kashmir. In Uttar Pradesh, a large share of expenditure has been awarded to a limited number of executing agencies, with four firms receiving about 84 per cent of the total allocation. RMK Enterprises alone accounted for roughly 42 per cent. Other agencies involved include Computer Solutions, Ramji Construction and Hidaya Kirat Enterprises.

Spending patterns show that about Rs 77 lakh, or nearly six per cent of total expenditure, has been used for projects in Jammu and Kashmir, while around Rs 11.82 crore, or about 94 per cent, has been spent in Uttar Pradesh. Under MPLADS rules, MPs may only recommend works, while tendering, contractor selection, implementation and monitoring are handled by the relevant district authorities.

The MPLADS programme, launched in December 1993 as a Central Sector Scheme, allows Members of Parliament to recommend development projects aimed at creating durable community assets such as roads, schools, drinking water systems and sanitation facilities. The scheme is fully funded by the Government of India, with each MP entitled to Rs 5 crore annually.