Ranchi, Dec 16 (IANS): The local area development fund should be increased from the present Rs.3 crore to Rs.5 crore, Jharkhand legislators from various parties said on Wednesday.

The issue was raised in the state assembly by Congress legislator Manoj after question hour.

"The present fund of Rs.3 crore is not enough to met the expectation of the people. The state government has included Rs.50 lakh for toilet construction from the fund," he said.

Pradeep Yadav, legislator of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), supported his demand and said: "The cost of construction work and other things has risen many folds. People demand construction of hand pumps, roads and other things from the legislators' fund."

Arup Chatterjee, legislator from the Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC), also supported the demand. "The Rs.3 crore fund is unchanged since 2004-2005."

Speaker Dinesh Oraon said: "We will discuss the issue on Thursday and get the chief minister's reply."

Legislator Biranchi Narayan of the ruling BJP told IANS: "The chief minister is in favour of hiking the fund and I think an announcement will be made soon."