HYDERABAD, Feb 2: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil on Thursday presented in the district council a Rs2.647 billion budget for 2005-06.

The budget was referred to the finance and planning committee of the council for discussion. The committee will present its recommendations to the council for discussion.

The size of non-development budget stands at Rs1926.297 million with salary expenditure of Rs1709.514 and non-salary expenditure of Rs216.783 million.

The district government will spend Rs328.00 million under the Annual Development Programme. Besides, a district development programme, funded by the district government, will also be executed at a cost of Rs120 million which will increase the size of the ADP to Rs448.000 million.

Other receipts of the district government are Rs12 million in the head of taxes/rents of the defunct district council and Rs2 million of sugar cess. There is an overall saving of Rs13.458 million after meeting all expenses and utilization of funds under the ADP.

The district government expects to get a share of Rs91.392 million under the octroi and zila tax.

The public sector development programme includes ongoing schemes of physical planning and housing, rural development and education worth Rs192.175 million. An amount of Rs62.469 has been allocated for new schemes of rural development, Rs22.400 million for education, Rs10.576 million for government offices and buildings, Rs6.450 million for health and Rs33.930 million for citizen community boards. The total budget of new schemes is Rs135.825 million.

The district nazim also presented revised estimates of Rs4.068 billion for 2004-05 while non-development estimates were calculated at Rs3.187 billion.

Non-development expenditures pertained to expenses of various group of offices, secretariats of the district nazim and the district council for 2005-06.

According to break-up, Rs10.085 million has been allocated for the district nazim secretariat, Rs17.488 million for the district council secretariat, Rs22.552 million for the DCO office, Rs3.205 million for civil defence, Rs9.631 million for finance and planning, Rs2.810 million for information technology, Rs88.207 million for administration (works), Rs1.344 billion for education, Rs255.339 million for health, Rs30.046 million for community development, Rs46.140 million for agriculture and food, Rs4.437 million for law and Rs45.275 million for the defunct district council.

The nazim said the district government would introduce a special grant for training course of district councillors for which Rs1 million had been allocated.

An amount of Rs1.5 million has been earmarked for other special grants, Rs4 million for welfare schemes and grant of honorarium to woman councillors, Rs0.5 million each for welfare schemes and grant of honorarium to labour and minority councillors, Rs0.375 million for social welfare, sport and culture, Rs2.1 million for welfare of deserving people, Rs1.3 million for promotion of culture and sports activities, Rs2.8 million for the Darul Aman, Darul Atfal etc, Rs56 million for maintenance and repair of roads, school and office buildings and Rs3 million for emergencies, rain, flood, terrorism and fire.

The nazim said work on a flyover in unit-7 of Latifabad had begun, a pumping station in the Sheedi village in Qasimabad was being constructed and a treatment plant in Qasimabad had been inaugurated.

He said that to control underground water table, work on a sub-soil well was going on. He said a new wing would be set up in the HDA for cleaning the sewerage system on annual basis. He said a beautification wing had been set up to execute works of re-modification of roundabouts and tree plantation.

He said that a project was being launched over the Pinyari Canal and the Akram Wah to connect the city with vegetable and fruit markets, adding that bridges over Phulelli ad Pinyari canals would be widened.

Mr Jamil said 183 closed schools had been reopened, seven schools would be upgraded, 39 new primary schools would be set up and 17 high schools would be equipped with computer laboratories.

He said a water and food testing laboratory and a trauma centre were also being set up.

He said that in the next four years, 478 watercourses would be lined, adding that lining of 54 watercourses would be completed this year.