Uttarakhand: Hilly areas lag behind in MLA fund expenditure while plains lead; Congress MLAs’ average spending is higher than that of BJP MLAs

Data regarding the utilization of the MLA Local Area Development Fund in Uttarakhand reveals a disparity in the pace of expenditure between the state’s hilly and plain regions. According to information obtained from the Office of the Rural Development Commissioner under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, approximately ₹1,091.29 crore out of the ₹1,664 crore fund available to MLAs was spent between the 2022-23 fiscal year and June 2026. This indicates that only about 66 percent of the allocated funds have been utilized.

The data shows that MLAs from hill districts spent an average of ₹14.74 crore, whereas the average expenditure for MLAs from the plain regions of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar stood at ₹16.88 crore. In the districts with mixed topography—Dehradun and Nainital—the average expenditure was ₹15.77 crore. The total expenditure rate was recorded at approximately 62 percent in hill regions, 66.4 percent in mixed-terrain districts, and 71.1 percent in plain regions.

Higher Expenditure Percentage Among Congress MLAs

Based on current political affiliations, the simple average of expenditure percentages per MLA was recorded at 68.4 percent for Congress MLAs and 64.4 percent for BJP MLAs. This means that, on this basis, the average expenditure percentage for Congress MLAs is about four percentage points higher. However, as this represents a simple average of individual MLA percentages, it should not be construed as the weighted expenditure rate of the total funds allocated to either party.

Two MLAs Lead with 77 Percent Expenditure

The data identifies BJP MLA Pradeep Batra (Roorkee) and Congress MLA Furkan Ahmad (Piran Kaliyar) as having the highest expenditure levels, at 77 percent. They are followed by Congress MLAs Ravi Bahadur and Qazi Nizamuddin, who stand at the 76 percent mark. BJP MLA Mahesh Jeena and Congress MLA Madan Singh Bisht recorded an expenditure percentage of 75 percent.

Among Congress MLAs, several—including Ravi Bahadur, Qazi Nizamuddin, Anupama Rawat, Mamta Rakesh, and Virendra Kumar—fall into the category of those with relatively high expenditure percentages. Meanwhile, within the BJP, apart from Pradeep Batra, several MLAs—including Rajkumar Pori, Satpal Maharaj, Khajan Das, and Ganesh Joshi—represent constituencies where expenditure exceeds 60 percent.

Expenditure below 60 percent in some constituencies

The lowest expenditure percentage regarding the MLA fund was recorded in the Tehri assembly constituency, at approximately 30 percent. Expenditure stands at 44 percent in Yamkeshwar, 51 percent in Chakrata, 52 percent in Kapkot, and 53 percent in Champawat. Spending remains below 60 percent in several other assembly constituencies as well.

Among the assembly seats held by cabinet ministers, Pradeep Batra leads with 77 percent expenditure. Saurabh Bahuguna has utilized 72 percent of the funds, Madan Kaushik 70 percent, Satpal Maharaj 68 percent, Khajan Das 66 percent, and Ganesh Joshi 65 percent. Meanwhile, Ram Singh Kaida stands at 62 percent and Rekha Arya at 60 percent. Subodh Uniyal and Bharat Singh Chaudhary (both at 57 percent) and Dhan Singh Rawat (at 37 percent) fall below the 60 percent mark.

Separate study needed on reasons for low expenditure in hilly regions

While the data clearly indicates that the pace of MLA fund utilization is slower in hilly regions compared to the plains, documents obtained via the Right to Information (RTI) do not analyze the underlying reasons. Various factors—such as geographical conditions, administrative procedures, accessibility of work sites, and the nature of the projects—can influence the pace of expenditure in mountainous areas.

Expressing concern over the utilization of MLA funds, senior journalist Neeraj Kohli noted that the fund stood at ₹75 lakh in 2002 and has since risen to ₹5 crore annually. According to him, while MLAs from both the ruling party and the opposition demand increases in the fund, there appears to be a lack of capacity to effectively utilize the available amount.

He emphasized that the proper and full utilization of MLA funds is the responsibility of MLAs from both the ruling party and the opposition. Its effective utilization is essential, particularly in mountainous regions, to accelerate the provision of basic amenities and development activities, and to ensure that the development of the hills aligns with the fundamental vision behind the state’s formation.