DALUNG ~ Badung legislature’s Commission B, which oversees the budget, has strongly criticised an allocation of Rp7 billion (US$700,000) it found in the regency’s draft 2010 budget for development of a food court at the new administration centre.

Commission B Chairman Putu Parwata said most commission members rejected the allocation because the urgency of the project was very low compared to other needs, especially for public service facilities.

“From the results of our examination of the budget, the Rp7 billion food court allocation is not reasonable,” he said.

Parwata instead proposed the funds be assigned to support more pressing development projects and educational facilities within the public service.

As examples of areas demanding budget allocations he cited stalled development of hospitals in Badung due to insufficient funding, and rural schools that lacked infrastructure.
‘
The eight-building second stage of development of the government centre, last month reported to be 84 percent complete, was earlier this year widely reported to have cost Rp345 billion ($34.5 million).