Page 432 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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The usual Municipal functions were carried out during the year, these included inspection
of meat at the slaughter house, the installation of additional street lighting and inspection of
markets. The meat, vegetable and fish market of Muharraq is a subject for complaints by
Municipal and health authorities. It consists of some dirty and ill-constructed sheds on the
shore south of the Municipal building. It is the property of members of the Ruling Family.
Attempts were made by the Municipality to come to some understanding with the owners in
order that the market should be rebuilt and properly looked after, but no satisfactory arrange­
ment was arrived at.
Few new houses were built during the year on the new housing area on the northern edge
of the town. There is a tendency for people to buy land, saying that they wish to build a house,
and then to leave the land empty hoping that they may sell it profitably at a later date. The
Government and the Municipalities do not dispose of land in order that the buyers should
speculate with it. All the building lots belonging to the Municipality have been sold but only
few have been built on.
During the year 1,200 permits were issued for building or repairing and enlarging stone
houses and 200 permits were issued for repairing “barastis.” At the end of the year there were
only 23 unoccupied shops or Amaras in the town as against 134 empty premises in the previous
year.
STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE, 1371
Revenue Expenditure
House Tax Rs. 40,687 11 3 Staff Salaries .. Rs 64,792 10 9
Shop Tax 24,823 8 6 Office Expenses 3,610 1 0
Government Grant .. 100,000 0 0 Road Repairing and Transport 77.819 14 6
Wood, Ghee and Sheep Tax 30,165 4 1 Town Cleaning 36,672 2 0
Rents of Municipal Property . 21,329 5 0 Widening Roads 25,233 13 6
Sale of Houses 22,400 0 0 Building Municipal Garage,
Building and Masons' Fees 3,629 0 0 upkeep of property 12,667 9 0
Miscellaneous Taxes and Fees. 4,612 1 0 Upkeep of Public Wells 5,285 4 0
Water Rent 1,926 8 0 Town Lighting 2,775 0 0
Pauper Burials 4,185 15 0
Poor Relief 3,418 2 0
Miscellaneous 3,404 9 6
Rs. 2,39,865 1 3
Surplus of Revenue .. 9,708 4 7
Rs. 2,49,573 5 10 Rs. 2,49,573 5 10

HIDD MUNICIPALITY
The revenue in 1371 was Rs. 26,427/- as against Rs. 11,598/- in the previous year. As
from the beginning of the year the Government raised its annual grant from Rs. 6,750/- per
annum to Rs. 20,000/- per annum. Collections from house and shop taxes during the year
were Rs. 3,782/- and Rs. 1,017/- respectively. House tax was Rs. 2,573/- in the previous year
and receipts front shop tax amounted to Rs. 860/-.

The expenditure was Rs. 22,482/- as against Rs. 12,566/- in the previous year.

The increase of the Government grant enabled the Municipality to carry out certain major
works. During the year the Municipality began to widen the only main road in the town by
cutting off a part of four houses, 4 shops and 2 Amaras. The compensation paid to the owners
amounted to Rs. 5,500/-. Widening of this road will continue during the next year.