NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, June 26: District Naushahro Feroze's Rs2.85 billion budget for the year 2004-05 was presented by District Naib Nazim Hassan Ali Shah in the council meeting on Friday.

Union Council Koor Hassan Nazim Ghulam Mohammad presided over the session.

According to the budget allocations Rs1.74 billion have been earmarked for salaries, Rs260 million for development schemes, Rs290 million for non-development schemes, Rs22.4 million for medicines, vaccines and X-ray films and food to indoor patients, Rs21 million for repair of roads, bridges and buildings, Rs400,000 for scholarships and awards, Rs20 million for agricultural machinery, Rs6.2 million for two fire brigades and Rs60 million for union councils.

The council was told that the Noor Mohammad Shah degree college Tharo Shah building and office buildings of UC Manaheen and Jam Noorullah would also be constructed with a cost of Rs1.6 million.

UC Ghair Gajo Nazim Waheed Abbasi said that the people would not get relief as the lion's share of budget - Rs1.74 billions - were allocated for salaries and Rs290 million for non- development funds as against Rs260 million for development.

When this correspondent contacted the EDO finance for providing a copy of the budget, he refused saying that the DCO had strictly restrained him from doing so.

The council will pass the budget on Sunday as there was no opposition except three members of the Awam Dost Panel.