HYDERABAD, July 30: The City Taluka Council here on Friday approved a deficit budget of Rs317.2 million for the year 2004-5 and revised budget estimates of Rs215 million for the closing fiscal year.

Taluka Nazim Moinuddin Sheikh presented the budget with a commitment to generate Rs97 million by launching commercial projects. The taluka municipal administration intends to launch six commercial projects in the new fiscal year, including shopping centres at the Market fire brigade, Fakir-jo-Pir, Liaquat Colony, Bus Terminal and the central TMA building.

According to the nazim, a major component of income of octroi and district tax of Rs171.855 million will be spent on salaries of the employees. The development budget stands at Rs80.525 million of which Rs31.7 million have been allocated under the Annual Development Programme.

A grant of Rs7.9 million for the Citizen Community Board. An amount of Rs17.7 million will be spent on construction and repair of roads and streets, Rs13 million on drains followed by expenditures on renovation of parks, Eidgah, graveyard, Qila Stadium, construction and repair of a minority colony and constructions of fire fighting stations.

Revenue income of the TMA is estimated at Rs203.5 million and capital income at Rs113.6 million, bringing total income to Rs317.1 million. Development schemes have been approved in a way that each union council will be given development funds of Rs1.2 million and Rs7 million will remain at the discretion of the taluka nazim. Of the Rs7 million, Rs2.1 million will be utilized by women councillors and Rs300,000 by labour councillors.

The nazim claimed that development expenditures formed 31.99 per cent of total income of the TMA. The break-up of income shows taxes of Rs12.1 million, fees of Rs4.4 million, rents of Rs14.6 million and other receipts of Rs533,000 whereas income under capital head includes arrears of Rs10 million, sale and profit of Rs97 million and Rs6.6 million of other capital income.

Taxes of the TMA stand at Rs12 million and include the share of octroi and district tax, share of property and betterment tax, advertisement, cinema show and sanitation tax, etc.

There are total fees of Rs443,000 including those on food and drink license, dangerous trade, footboard and sign board, parking as well as fines, etc. The breakup of salaries indicate that Rs10.362 million will be reserved for salaries and allowances of officers and Rs161.492 million for those of staff. Besides, there are liabilities of Rs10 million.

An amount of Rs900,000 has been earmarked for social welfare including scholarships for children of the TMA employees, sports and medical. An amount of Rs1.76 million has been allocated for unforeseen expenditure, civil defence and relief work.

Total capital expenditure of the TMA is Rs5.9 million as well as revenue expenditure of Rs311.2 million including Rs3.8 million of charged expenses i.e. excise duty, audit fee, water and sewerage charges of Wasa, immovable property tax, etc.