TMA contractors fleecing animal buyers

The sale of sacrificial animals at 10 points established by Town Municipal Administration (TMA) has geared up due to better weather conditions on Sunday, however, TMA contractors fleecing animal buyers and traders and creating an additional burden over the citizen.
Meanwhile, the prices of sacrificial animals showed an upward trend this year.
The TMA contractors along with armed gunmen were receiving TMA fee Rs 200 for small animal and Tax Rs 400 for big animal on white paper chits, during the presence of Police over each sold of animal and claimed that the Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) has imposed a new fee on entry and exit of sacrificial animals.
Talking to newsmen, a businessman Munir Ahmad said that the armed men of the TMA contractors were forcibly charging Rs 400 from the buyer and seller of a sacrificial cow and Rs 200 from those of lamb or sheep. These sales points have become a part of "TMA market", he added.
They were also charging Rs 10 to Rs 30 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.
City Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema made it clear 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 authorised 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 Rs 4 and Rs 18, respectively, he added.