Agartala: Tripura has emerged as the poorest performer among NE states in utilising funds from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).Recent data published on the Empowered India digital platform placed the state at 22nd out of India’s 36 states and Union Territories, with an overall fund utilisation rate of only 22.78%, which is well below the national average of nearly 74%.The central govt allocated a total of Rs 41.7 crore to Tripura’s three MPs, yet only about Rs 9.5 crore has been expended so far. This sluggish fund usage has also hindered project progress. Although around 100 development projects have been proposed across the state, just one project has reached completion.Among Tripura’s MPs, Biplab Kumar Deb has registered the highest MPLADS fund utilisation. Out of his Rs 14.7 crore allocation, he has spent approximately Rs 4.6 crore, equating to 31.12% of his total allocation. He has proposed 29 projects, but none have been finalised.Rajib Bhattacharjee stands second, utilising around Rs 3.5 crore out of his Rs 12.3 crore allocation, reflecting a 24.92% usage rate. He has recommended 56 projects and is the state’s sole MP in Rajya Sabha from Tripura, under whose term one project has been completed.In contrast, Kriti Devi Debbarman shows the lowest utilisation rate. From her Rs 14.7 crore allocation, only about Rs 1.9 crore has been spent, which amounts to 12.67%. None of the 49 projects she recommended has been completed.In the NE states, Nagaland is at the forefront nationally with a fund utilisation rate of 82.3%, followed by Mizoram at 73.8% and Meghalaya at 63.9%. Other states in the region, such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam, have also achieved better results than Tripura.The latest statistics underscored that despite receiving substantial financial allocations, Tripura’s progress in implementing MPLADS-funded development projects has been minimal. This slow execution has raised concerns about administrative efficiency and the timely delivery of public development initiatives in the state.
