FAISALABAD, Jan 31: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) has imposed heavy fee on entry and exit of sacrificial animals, burdening the citizens.

Dawn learnt on Saturday that the armed men of the TMA contractors were forcibly charging Rs400 from the buyer and seller of a sacrificial cow and Rs200 from those of lamb or sheep at all its 10 sale points.

They were also charging Rs10 to Rs30 for each sacrificial animal at all the entry points of city like the Jhang Road, Sargodha Road, Satiana Road, Samundri Road, Jaranwala Road and Canal Road, as octroi in violation of the prescribed rules.

People who refused to pay what they called 'Jagga Tax' were reportedly beaten up publicly by the armed men of the contractors. Reports of altercations have poured in the district in which several people suffered injuries.

Despite heavy fee being charged by the contractor, facilities for animals like fodder, water and sheds were not being provided at these sale points.

A group of breeders belonging to Faisalabad's adjoining areas complained that they had to pay tax for the first time, which was unjustified. They claimed that the TMA officials, contractors and police personnel did not allow them to sell their animals in the city areas.

"We have no option, but to bring our stuff to the selected sale points where we have to make cushion for the hefty commissions.

The contractors' goons, it is learnt, were issuing blank receipts containing a stamp indicating only the name of the contractor and site of sales.

A senior TMA official told this correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the municipal higher-ups and officials concerned extorted millions of rupees from the contractors of sacrificial animals' sale points through underhand deals. Wasa officials, including its chairman (who is also the city Nazim), were also in league with the corrupt TMA officials, he alleged.

When contacted, Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema claimed that the TMA (city) had not awarded any contract for the collection of fee from the sellers or purchasers of sacrificial animals. However, he admitted that the bakar mandi contractor was authorized to receive the fee only from breeders during the entry of animals in the city. The rate for the sheep and the cows had been fixed Rs4 and Rs18, respectively, he added.

Meanwhile, the prices of sacrificial animals showed an upward trend this year.