KHAIRPUR, July 4: Khairpur taluka council approved a surplus budget for 2007-08 presented by Taluka Nazim Tahir Imtiaz Phulpoto.

According to the budget documents, total receipts would be Rs165.298 million whereas the expenditure would be Rs157.493 million with a surplus of Rs7.805 million.

The nazim said that an amount of Rs18.4 million had been allocated for development schemes, Rs16 million for salaries and pensions. He said that an amount of Rs2.8 million had been allocated for the construction of waiting sheds and 500 dustbins would be installed in the city.

He said that Rs1 million had been allocated for the development of Phool Bagh and Rs700,000 for development and purchase of green belts for Dilshad Park. Khairpur Dost Panel councillors Mansoor Bhayo, Ms Shama, Saeed Akhtar and others hailed the budget.

Awam Dost Panel councillor Ali Dino Soomro complained that the budget copies were not given to the ADP councillors before presenting it in the session.

He said that there was acute shortage of drinking water in the city and people were compelled to purchase drinking water. The sanitation system was also non-functioning, he added.

He added that people including women and students were facing problems due to encroachments in the city particularly in markets and main bazaars. Later, the house approved the budget.