FAISALABAD, Dec 20: The district government has decided to levy toll on six main roads of the district despite protests from elected representatives and the people at large.

A source in the district government told this correspondent here on Saturday that the district government had decided to award contracts for collection of toll on Sargodha Road, Canal Road and Jhang Road in the city and Rasalewala Road, Khurrianwala-Jaranwala Road and Satiana-Jaranwala Road in the rural areas and invited tenders for the purpose.

The contracts would be awarded for the remaining six months of the current financial year starting from Jan 1.

The plan was finalised six months ago but its implementation postponed as people were of the view that there was no justification for imposition of toll on main roads of the district after abolition of the system by the provincial government.

CCBs: The district government has reserved Rs220 million for Citizens Community Boards but a lack of by-laws is preventing implementation of the scheme.

This was stated by Executive District Officer (Finance) Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry while talking to members of the District Council in its session held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Naib Nazim Raza Nasarullah Ghumman.

He pointed out that under the CCB plan, it was mandatory for the local councils to arrange 20 per cent of the amount for a developmental project through community participation while the government would provide the remaining 80 per cent.

He said eight heads had been approved for execution of development schemes under CCBs, which included cementing irrigation outlets, launching farmers welfare programmes, constructing boundary walls of primary schools, constructing toilets, paving streets and roads, establishing women training institutes and renovating parks and gardens.

A number of councillors accused district government officials of failing to provide them copies of the proposed by-laws.

The speaker took serious notice of the objection raised by councillors and directed the officials to provide them copies of by-laws. The EDO for finance presented the by-laws before the House but in the meantime, the House was adjourned for want of quorum till Dec 23.