Ranchi, Jan. 20: The MLAs and MPs might be busy talking big about the neglect of development in the state, but they are not at all keen about the proper utilisation of their development funds.

While the MP fund utilisation was 51.09 per cent, the average MLA fund utilisation comes to 48.15 per cent till December last year.

Finance minister Raghubar Das, therefore, has directed all the deputy commissioners and deputy development commissioners to immediately get in touch with the MLAs and MPs belonging to their respective districts and request them to initiate necessary actions. There are 82 MLAs and 20 MPs, including six Rajya Sabha members from the state.

While each of the MLAs gets Rs 1.5 crore per annum for the welfare projects of their respective constituencies, each MP is given Rs 2 crore per annum. But, fund utilisation by the MLAs belonging to Godda, Gumla, Latehar, and Sahebganj districts, in particular, was hardly 30 per cent till December. Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Ranchi and Simdega are among the few districts where the MLA fund utilisation is above 60 per cent.

Talking to The Telegraph Das said to ensure better fiscal management, his government has decided that no new scheme will be taken up after February 28. ?According to the new central guidelines, if the opening balance exceeds 10 per cent of the total funds available during the financial year, the Centre?s share will be deducted,? he added.