THE state government has allocated an estimated RM3.45bil for all its plans under Budget 2017.

From the sum, RM1.65bil or 47.8% will be for management of the state while the balance will go towards development plans.

This was announced by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali at the state assembly yesterday.

Selangor’s budget will see a deficit of RM900mil which stems from the increase in expenditure for development that is sustainable and of quality for the people.

Under the allocation for management expenditure, RM427.9mil is for emoluments while RM543.16mil is set aside for services and supplies and RM18.34mil has been allocated for purchase of assets.

A total of RM608.11mil is available for grants and fixed payments while RM52.49mil will be reserved for other expenses.

The increase in the budget allocation for management of the state next year will be used to finance the annual salary increase for civil servants following the rationalisation of public service scheme, which involves the allocation of RM20.3mil and RM7mil to replace coloured textbook loan schemes for students from Year 1 to 3 in religious schools.

RM10mil will be used for maintenance operations for rivers and reservoirs, RM13.2mil for increase in the free water provision programme and increase in funds to RM150mil for the upgrading of old water pipes, solid waste management plans as well as river conservation and upgrading projects.

The same allocation will also be used for an initiative called Hijrah Selangor Programme with the aim of providing micro-credit to expand the middle-class in the state.

The allocation for development expenditure is an increase by 25% and is the biggest allocation in the state’s budget history.

From the RM1.8bil allocation, RM1.093bil or 60.7% will be for infrastructure projects such as upgrading and construction of roads, maintenance of drainage and irrigation as well as water supply infrastructure projects.

RM250.3mil will be used to improve the state’s economy while RM247.2mil is for community service programmes, education, empowerment entrepreneurs, youth and sports development as well as women and families.

The state government plans to use RM209mil for primary healthcare programmes, which will look into fighting the Zika and dengue outbreaks, develop the rural economy and building basic infrastructure for rural areas and villages.

In river clean-up, the assembly was informed that a total of RM5mil was spent by the state government to clean Sungai Klang.

As of September this year, 4,869 metric tonnes of floating waste had been collected and 48 rubbish traps had been set up along the river.

Azmin said that during the operations at the river, five illegal landfills were identified.

He said the state government would now look at creating a river management agency to coordinate the conservation and development works at the river.

He added that the agency would be responsible for conserving the river reserve and to prepare a plan to develop the riverbank as a new source of income for Selangor.

As such, the state allocated RM15mil for conservation and development works on Sungai Klang.

To promote the river, a Klang River Marathon will be organised next year.

For the Malaysian Road Record Information System (Marris), RM600mil has been allocated to the funds next year.

From the amount, RM196mil will be given to the Public Works Department (JKR) for road maintenance projects in Selangor.

RM372mil has been allocated to 12 local councils in Selangor, RM30mil for nine district land offices for maintenance of rural roads while RM2mil will be forwarded to the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

Separately, the state government has instructed Shah Alam City Council to speed up the upgrading works of Taman Tasik Shah Alam.

Azmin said the state took this matter seriously as the lake park was a landmark in Selangor’s capital city, and also a popular recreational spot for local residents and tourists.

In the recent MBSA 2017 Budget, it was announced that RM4mil would be used to upgrade the lake.

Azmin also urged MBSA to start a Car-free Day in line with the local council’s Green Initiative to reduce carbon emissions in the city.