HYDERABAD, Feb 7: The EDO, finance and planning, Sharif Awan, on Tuesday informed the district council that rural areas of the district had got over 40 per cent allocations as the areas were covered in different special packages.

He said a conference would be held before preparation of the 2006-07 budget of the district government where economic experts, elected representatives, intellectuals and industrialists would be invited.

He was responding to points raised by council members during a debate over the budget.

The EDO hoped that the district government would have a saving of Rs50 to Rs60 million by the end of the fiscal year, adding that preparation of a budget for 2006-07 had already begun.

Inviting suggestions from members for development works which would be considered in the two-day pre-budget conference to be arranged by district government, he said non-development expenditures were meant to run the government machinery.

He said new schemes had been incorporated on need assessment basis given the limited resources of district government.

The EDO said rural areas had been covered under different projects of various special packages meant for sewerage, drainage, health and education sectors.

He said funds of sugar cess and the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses would be utilized in rural areas alone.

He clarified that funds were to be earmarked for the Citizens Community Board because it was mandatory.

He said Rs40 million had been allocated for Rani Bagh under the Hyderabad Development Package though it was not controlled by the district government. Likewise, he said, graveyards would also be improved.

The official said the HDA was not part of the district government because its devolution was still under way.

He disclosed that Rs200 million of the Hyderabad package had been released to the district government.