HYDERABAD, July 5: Matiari District Nazim Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Jamote on Wednesday presented Rs1,059.706 million budget for 2007-08, which was unanimously approved by the district council within half an hour.

The budget’s salary component has been fixed at Rs698.639 million while Rs204.029 million has been earmarked for miscellaneous expenses. An amount of Rs110.279 million has been allocated for the ongoing development schemes, Rs36.759 million has been earmarked for new development schemes and Rs10 million has been set aside for district development programme.

The decisions taken at the budget session included upgradation of all the basic health units (BHUs) into model units in collaboration with NCHD, upgradation of all taluka hospitals, establishment of a district hospital, publication of works of poets, scholars etc and launch of 400 adult literacy centres with NCHD’s support.

The council decided to extend the tenure of 65 teachers up to May 31, 2008, who were previously supported by ESRA, gave approval to setting up 14 computer centres in the district with the support of SDSSP and NCHD and acquire land for sports complex, gymkhana, public park and education city.

The council approved raise in the monthly honorarium of each councillor from Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 and grant of Rs2m to each union council nazim for carrying out development activities.