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HYDERABAD, June 27: The district Council, Hyderabad, on Thursday approved Rs3,451.188 million budget estimates for 2002-2003 under protest, showing a surplus amount of Rs2.4 million.
The district Nazim, Hyderabad, Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, who presented the budget, claimed that he was also presenting the budget under protest because the district government did not prepare it as expected last year when he had presented a revised budget.
According to budget documents, out of total budget of Rs3,451.188 million, an income of Rs89.638 million has been expected against expected expenditure of Rs87.188 million. Under the Annual Development Programme, an amount of Rs495.293 million has been allocated for different sectors in the district for 67 schemes — 58 old and nine new ones.
Seven new schemes of physical planning and housing that would cost Rs151 million have been given by the provincial government. Rs164 million are allocated for eight old schemes in the same thereby bringing the total amount of expenditure on 15 schemes to Rs378.000 million.
For these schemes, 25 per cent financial assistance, i.e. Rs63 million, would be received from Foreign Projects Assistance (FPA).
No new scheme has been given for rural development as the previous nine schemes will continue on which Rs10.755 million will be spent. Likewise, no new scheme has been given in the education, health, agriculture, industries, science, and technology and other sectors under the ADP.
Only two more schemes worth Rs2 million have been given for culture and tourism.
For the nine group of offices of the Hyderabad District government that were still getting funds under different heads, the provincial government allocated an amount of Rs2,866.256 million for salary and non-salary heads which included health, education, community and development department, agriculture and food administration, administration (works), planning, board of revenue, and finance department.
Last year, Rs2,356.023 million were allocated in the same head under the revised budget for 2001-2002.
No allocations were, however, made for the district Nazim and Naib Nazim offices as well as TA/DA allowances of members of the District Council.
For these heads the district government has allocated funds from the defunct District Council’s resources of income.
An income of Rs89.638 million under taxes, fees, rent, and other receipts has been expected.
According to the break-up of these receipts, Rs78.091 million were for old taxes, Rs0.365 million were for fees, Rs1.11 million for rent, and Rs6.777 million for other receipts.
The expenditure of the district council has been expected at Rs87.188 million, showing a surplus amount of Rs2.4 million.
No new taxes have been levied in addition to previous taxes.
Last year, the expenditure under revised budget of 2001-2002 was 68.991 million against the actual budget of Rs77.8229 million for 2000-2001.
THE DISTRICT NAZIM: The district Nazim, Hyderabad, Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman on Thursday said that he was not happy to present the budget before the District Council as the district government was supposed to prepare its own budget under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance.
Presenting the budget estimates for 2002-2003, the district Nazim said when he had presented the revised budget he had expected the district government to prepare its own budget for next year.
He regretted that the provincial government did not make any allocations for the offices of the district Nazim and Naib Nazims and members of the District Council.
He added that he had already lodged his protest with the Sindh governor.
Nevertheless, he said allocation have been made for these offices from the expected income of the defunct District Council.
He asked the members to pass budget estimates under protest because if it were not passed then a commission, set up by the government would pass them on its own.
He told the members that the budget estimates showed that Hyderabad did not get any grant in the budget though no new taxes were levied.
He was quite critical of the fact that schemes for the Annual Development Programme had also been finalized by the provincial government without consulting the district government.
He claimed that Rs153 million had been allocated for the nine schemes that had already been identified by the district government which would be carried out from a special grant of Rs500 million, announced by the Sindh governor.
He pointed out that the transition period was still going on, therefore the District Council was utilising funds of the defunct District Council.
He did not rule out presenting a revised budget in July this year, and added that he would take new schemes from the members to be taken for execution.
Mr Rafiq maintained that the district government was within its rights to reassess the schemes under the ADP.
There was a hue and cry among the members when the convener, Nawab Rashid Ali Khan, tried to refer the budget to the finance committee for submitting its report on Friday morning.
The Awam Dost Panel candidates started shouting in support of passing the budget whereas a good number of members intended to discuss the budget estimates and then pass or reject it.
The controversy prompted Meeran M. Shah to move a motion, asking the members to pass the budget under protest as suggested by the District Nazim.
The resolution was adopted with a majority vote. However, Rana Mehmood Ali Khan, Dr Najeeb Memon, and other members raised their objections. They asked the convener to refer the budget to the members for debate.
The session was adjourned sine die by the convener.
