Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Tripura has reported poor utilisation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds, with official data showing low expenditure and fewer project completions compared to the national average.
According to data from the Empowered India digital platform, the state has been allocated Rs 41.7 crore under the MPLAD scheme for its three Members of Parliament. However, only 22.78 per cent of the funds, about Rs 9.5 crore, has been utilised so far. Although nearly 100 development projects have been recommended across the state, only one has been completed.
The data, updated as of April 2026, places Tripura at 22nd among 36 states and Union Territories in MPLAD fund utilisation. Nationally, the scheme shows stronger implementation, with Rs 703 crore allocated and Rs 520 crore spent, reflecting a utilisation rate of 74 per cent. Across the country, 4,413 projects have been completed.
Among Tripura’s MPs, East Tripura Lok Sabha member Kriti Devi Debbarman has recorded the lowest utilisation rate. Of the Rs 14.7 crore allocated to her, only Rs 1.9 crore (12.7 per cent) has been spent. She has recommended 49 projects, none of which have been completed.
West Tripura MP and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has utilised Rs 4.6 crore out of Rs 14.7 crore, which is 31.1 per cent utilisation. He has recommended 29 projects, but none have been completed.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee is the only parliamentarian from the state to have recorded at least one completed MPLAD project. Of his Rs 12.3 crore allocation, Rs 3.5 crore (24.9 per cent) has been utilised, with 56 projects recommended and one completed.
Overall, despite allocations of over Rs 41 crore, Tripura continues to lag behind the national average in both fund utilisation and project execution under the MPLAD scheme.