HYDERABAD, July 14: The Taluka City Council here on Monday has approved a budget of Rs265.90 million for 2003-4 without any debate.
The Taluka City Nazim, Haji Moinuddin Sheikh, read out the budget speech, enumerating the salient features of the budget.
An allocation of Rs54.9 million for development works has been made.
The expected expenditure is Rs265.90 million against the income and receipts of the same amount under different heads.
The Taluka City Council expects to receive revenue income of Rs190.30 million whereas the capital income is Rs75.60 million, bringing the total income to Rs265.90 million.
The Taluka City Council has proposed to the Sindh government to release regularly an amount of Rs155.28 million under the head of salaries of the council in lieu of its share of octroi tax collection that had been abolished several years back.
An amount of Rs1,250,000 has been allocated for unforeseen expenditure whereas Rs48.85 million has been allocated for contingencies fund.
Although the Taluka Nazim has claimed in his speech that Rs4.4 million has been earmarked as his discretionary fund, there is no mention of this amount in the budget document.
The Taluka City Council will generate an income of Rs54.75 million from its own resources under the head of receipts/income. Of this amount, an amount of Rs75 million will be utilized for construction of shopping centre in UC-10 and 11. Rs12.5 million will be received from the construction of the Market fire station shopping centre.
The Taluka City Council expects to receive Rs34.7 million in connection with the project of bus terminal for 2003-4 as an amount of Rs5.2 million had been secured last year.
According to the break-up of development expenditure, Rs8.6 million “14.86 per cent of total income/receipts” will be spent on repair of roads/streets, Rs7.1 million on construction and repair of sewerage system, including drains, Rs4 million will be utilized for beautification of parks and city, Rs500,000 for construction of Eidgah, Rs800,000 for improvement of graveyard, Rs700,000 for construction of Qilla Stadium and Rs500,000 for repairing roads in Minority Colony.
Each union council of the Taluka city is expected to get an amount of Rs875,000 for development works.
Out of the discretionary grant of Rs4.4 million, women and labour councillors will get Rs1.7 million and Rs250,000 respectively subject to identification of such works by the Taluka Council.
Under the directives of the Sindh government, Rs800,000 have been earmarked for the Citizens Community Board. 81.59 per cent of the budget will be spent on the salaries and allowances of employees.
The Taluka City Council also approved revised budget estimates of 2002-3 with an expenditure of Rs172.53 million against an income of Rs144.82 million.