KOHAT, May 22: The district council on Tuesday approved revised budget for year 2001-2002, which showed 100 per cent increase in the non-developmental expenditure of Tehsil Municipal Administration over the initial allocations where only Rs34.3 million have been spared for the new development projects under the Khushal Pakistan Programme.

The total projected income of tehsil during 2001-2002 was shown as Rs50.68m whereas expenditure was set at Rs50.42m. This included charge expenditure of Cantonment Board, Kohat Development Authority and Municipal Committee. The revised telephone and other non-developmental expenditure stood at Rs20.60m.

The convener of the council Haji Sardar Khan informed the house that Rs2.4m would be spent in the education sector and Rs8m on the electrification of villages on the Rawalpindi road.

Engineer Malik Asad, district Nazim, in his speech asked the Nazims and councillors to ensure timely completion of developmental schemes in their areas and supervise the work of the contractors for checking quality of material.

He asked them to pinpoint, wherever necessary, the shortcomings of the government so that the problems could be rectified.

Dr Matiullah Shah, Nazim from urban III while criticizing the budget said that it could not be considered as revision of the figures but in fact a new budget had been passed where the non developmental expenditure has shot up to almost double of what was initially allocated.

For example, for POL only Rs0.6m were allocated whereas in the revised budget Rs1.6m had been allocated and approved which was injustice with the poor people of the district.

Similarly the telephone bill of tehsil administration for Rs 17.8m in only 10 months speaks for the lavish and irresponsible attitude of the council who had no regard for the sufferings of the people.

He lamented that the district administration did not know what the budget is which in fact means the judicious distribution and use of available resources for the welfare of the area. But here the case was opposite.

He also criticized the manner in which the council affairs were being run where body listened to the rulings of the convener and the session continued for hours even after the council was adjourned.