Raghunath to look into MLALAD fund hike issue

BHUBANESWAR: Assembly Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat on Tuesday directed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty to look into the demand of the members to increase the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund. “I give responsibility to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to proceed in the matter. I direct him to get in touch with the State Government and take necessary steps,” the Speaker said. Earlier, the members, cutting across party lines, demanded that the MLALAD fund should be increased from ` 1 crore to ` 3 crore. The issue was raised by Prashant Nanda (NCP) during zero hour. Nanda said as the MPLAD fund has been increased to ` 5 crore and cost of construction materials has increased, the MLALAD fund should be increased to ` 3 crore. Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh, Surendra Prasad Pramanik, Ramchandra Kadam, Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik (BJD), Karendra Majhi (BJP) and several others raised the issue.