Udupi: Congress leader Oscar Fernandes donated an amount of Rs 1 crore from his MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD) to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rajya Sabha MP from Udupi wrote a letter to DC Jagadeesha to release the fund and utilise the same to contain spread of novel coronavirus.

The government on Tuesday allowed district authorities to use Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for medical testing, screening and other facilities required to detect and contain Covid-19.

Several parliamentarians have offered to release amounts from their MPLAD funds to battle coronavirus.