Page 137 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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hundreds of poor people daily in Manama and Muharraq and also loaves of bread to the undernourished
children in the country schools. The new works which arc mentioned under Public Works include a
new Women’s Dispensary in Muharraq, in place of the present hired house and some additions to the
Fort and the Schools.
Under State Engineer’s Department the expenditure shown against Shaikh Hamad Bridge is
Rs. 41.000. The actual expenditure is estimated at Rs. 17,000, annual depreciation is Rs. 8,000 per
annum. In 1361 and 1362 no sum was set aside for depreciation. A new account has now been
opened into which the annual depreciation on the bridge will be paid and the depreciation for 1361
and 1362 has been included on the expenditure side of the 1363 budget.
In 1362 the State sustained a loss of Rs. 56,500 over the sale of food supplies to the public.
This was caused by the State selling certain commodities at less than cost price and also by being
obliged at times to sell foodstuffs before the costs were ascertained. The sum of Rs. 60,000 has been
provided to cover similar eventualities in 1363.
In the past Departmental expenses such as stationery, furniture, etc., for all Government
Departments were shown in a separate budget heading. In the new budget these expenses have been
divided among the Departments concerned.
In the Budget for 1362 the amount spent by the Government on the food supplies which it held
at the end of the year was shown as a Suspense Account. This year a new account has been opened
for Food Supplies on a commercial basis and the amount which had been spent by the Government
at the end of 1362 is shown as an advance to that account against purchase of foodstuffs. The sum
outstanding at the end of 1362 was approximately 14 lacs, normally this sum would have been added
to the Reserve Fund and would have produced an income of Rs. 42,000. In addition the State has
provided for a possible loss of Rs. 60,000 by the sale of foodstuffs apart from the cost of administering
Food Control.

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