Mysuru: Mysuru Zilla Panchayat President Nayeema Sulthana presented the 2017-18 Budget at the ZP Hall here this morning.

Reading out the 55-page Budget document without any break, Nayeema Sulthana said that the plan outlay stands at Rs. 368.19 crore with Rs. 114.32 crore to be spent towards salary account and Rs. 253.87 crore towards non-salary account.

Explaining the salient features of the Budget (2017-18), she said that Rs. 135 crore will be spent for primary education including mid-day meal scheme, Rs. 70 lakh for school furniture, Rs. 74.83 crore for health, Rs. 5.42 crore for veterinary services and Rs. 5.08 crore for sericulture promotion.

Pointing out that out of the 31 multi-village drinking water projects sanctioned for the district over the years, 14 were completed last year, she said that the ZP has sent a proposal to the Govt. seeking Rs. 2.5 crore for executing drinking water schemes in 493 villages across the district.

Giving a brief on ZP’s plans for making the entire district open-defecation-free, she said that the ZP has set a target of constructing toilets for 1,64,866 SC/ST and BPL families this year at a cost of Rs. 218 crore, for which the ZP has prepared an action plan.

Stating that Hunsur Taluk will be declared open-defecation-free taluk in June, Nayeema Sulthana said that the ZP has set a target of declaring the same in rest of the six taluks of the district by March end next year.

ZP Vice-President Nataraj, CEO P. Shivashankar and other officials were present.