Parliamentarians cutting across party lines on Friday welcomed the increase in MP local area development fund from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore per year but cautioned that the money should be properly utilised.
"It will give an opportunity for many projects which are low in the priority of the district but are useful for the development of the area," BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters outside Parliament House complex, welcoming the increase in funds.
He agreed that there were possibilities of the MPLAD funds being misused but maintained that this does not mean the amount should not be increased.
"There are instances of it being misused. But they are seen in every scheme. There is not a single scheme where there are no loopholes. It all depends upon the MPs and how they use it," Joshi said.
Telecom and HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the decision is aimed at helping the common man.
"There is no question of good or bad. This is what the finance minister has decided. The intent is certainly that we spread the benefit of the MPLAD scheme to the 'aam admi' and I hope that that objective is achieved," Sibal said.
He dismissed the opposition by MPs from Left parties to the hike, saying, "Many question many things."