KARACHI: Rates for street-lights termed unjustified - Towns' budgets for 2004-05 ty
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, June 30: Three more town municipal administrations (TMAs) - North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Gulberg - announced their budgets for the fiscal 2004-05.
Nazims of almost all TMAs in their budget speeches bitterly criticised the KESC for charging commercial rates from their towns on account of providing electricity for street lights, saying that a considerable amount was being consumed under the head of electricity charges.
Terming the power utility's practice of charging commercial rates for providing electricity for street lights - which is a public service - as 'unjust' and 'unfair', the town nazims urged the government to direct the KESC not to do so.
NORTH NAZIMABAD: A Rs337.100 million tax-free budget of North Nazimabad Town for the fiscal 2004-05 was presented on Wednesday at its council by Town Nazim Fasihuddin Siddiqui.
The budget session, presided over by its convener naib nazim Maqsood Khan, was told that the town during the ensuing financial year would receive Rs165 million under the head of matching grant in lieu of octroi and general sales tax, Rs110 million under the head of property tax, Rs30 million from advertisements, and Rs27.3 million would be generated by the town through its own sources.
According to the nazim, 51pc of the total outlay which came to around Rs170 million had been allocated for development projects while Rs166 million (49pc) had been earmarked for non-development expenditures.
Giving the break-up of development works, he said Rs60 million had been provided for construction and repair of roads, Rs10 million for repairing and cleaning of storm water drains, Rs5 million for undertaking water and sewerage works in slum areas, Rs10 million for developing model parks in all its UCs, Rs5 million for footpaths, Rs7.5 million for setting up workshops, Rs2 million for purchasing steel containers to improve sanitary conditions, and over Rs10 million for providing lights on streets and at parks.
DISCRETIONARY FUND: The nazim had also provided Rs1.5 million for each member of the town's council in the budget at their discretion in recognition of their services, besides allocating Rs6 million for the town councillor (both men and women).
LIAQUATABAD: A Rs317.263 million tax-free budget of Liaqatabad Town for fiscal 2004-05 was presented on Tuesday at its council. Presenting the budget, the town's naib nazim, Shahabuddin, said the town's total receipts had been estimated at Rs317.263 million, which included Rs156.8 million for development projects.
Giving the break-up of upliftment plans, he said Rs6.9 million had been earmarked for street lights, Rs9.2 million for improvement of parks and playgrounds, Rs0.8 million for health and sanitation, Rs5 million for floodlights in playgrounds, Rs1.5 million for renovation of roundabouts, and Rs4 million for women welfare schemes.
Besides, funds had also been allocated for carpeting of streets, improvement of sewerage system and development works in minority dominated areas. Major sources of the town's income include Rs200 million under the head of matching grant in lieu of abolished octroi and other taxes, Rs30.5 million would be generated from property tax, Rs20 million from transfer of property, Rs10 million through advertising, Rs20 million from conservancy tax, Rs10.25 million from trade license and charged parking and Rs10 million on account of building plan from the KBCA.
GULBERG: Town Nazim Farooq Niamatullah on Tuesday presented a Rs356.5 million budget for the next financial year, incorporating a development outlay of Rs178.491 million, which comes to over 50pc of the total budget.
According to the town's budget documents, its estimated income for the ensuing fiscal year has been projected at Rs456.887 million as compared to its expenditures of Rs356.501 million, indicating a surplus of Rs100.386 million.
The town's major sources of income include its share in lieu of octroi to be received from Sindh government, and from various taxes to be provided by the CDGK. The total amount under both heads would be Rs325 million. Besides, another Rs31.887 million would be generated by the town from its own sources.
Referring to non-development expenditures, he said that of the total Rs178.01 million earmarked under this head, Rs97.748 million had been provided for establishment; Rs68.752 million for contingencies and Rs11.51 million for maintenance.
About the development plans and funds allocated for the purpose, he said that Rs98.85 million had been set aside for construction and repair of roads, streets and footpaths; Rs45.65 million for upliftment of parks, playgrounds and nurseries; Rs15.66 million for maintenance of street lights; and Rs9m as unforeseen expenses for water and sewerage lines works.
The nazim deplored the town's development works were badly affected owing to suspension of funds from Sindh government. He also regretted that on one hand, the Sindh government had deducted Rs60 million during current financial year, and on the other hand, the KESC charged an extra Rs15 million from the town under the head of electricity charges for street lights.
