Kathmandu, January 2:

The 15th Town Council Meeting of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) today approved a budget of Rs 1.88 billion to formulate its programmes and policies for the fiscal year 2008/2009.

KMC formulated eight sector-wise policies for the substantial development of the only metropolis in the country. The areas consist of urban development, infrastructure development, social development, information and international relation, finance management and resource management. It also includes organisation development, environment management and conservation of culture and cultural heritages in Kathmandu Valley.

According to the KMC, 18.81 per cent of its total revenue will be spent in its administrative sector.

KMC’s executive officer Narayan Gopal Malego said the KMC would carry out construction works on the basis of public-private-partnership (PPP) concept. “Roads, drainage lines and other infrastructures will be build in participation with local people. It will help such projects become more substantial,” he said, adding that they were conducting programmes like conserving the public area, park construction, tourism development and cultural heritage preservation, management of garbage and other security sectors to uplift different marginalised groups in the KMC.

Malego informed that the KMC had also plans to construct improved slaughterhouses and public toilets in the fiscal year under the PPP concept. “We are also giving emphasis on organisational development of the KMC. We have proposed to adopt a modern technology to ensure smooth flow of information to people,” he added.

He also said the KMC formulated its budget on the basis of its income and resources to ensure quality service to city-dwellers.