LAHORE, Feb 24: Most kite-enthusiasts in the city had to pay Rs50 to Rs100 to get permission for celebrating Basant either at the rooftops of their houses or at open spaces, in violation of the rules framed under the Punjab Kite-Flying Ordinance.

The City District Government of Lahore had, according to the rules framed for the Basant festival under the recently-promulgated ordinance, notified that people desirous of celebrating Basant should obtain permission from the union council concerned free of charge.

A visit to various city localities revealed that almost all the union councils in the eight towns of the CDGL had set up special counters at their offices from where “C” forms could be obtained on payment of Rs50 to Rs100.

A number of UC officials in Samanabad, Data Gunj Bakhsh, Iqbal Town, Gulberg, Aziz Bhatti, Shalamar, Nishtar and Ravi towns told this reporter that a union council was authorised to impose the fee.

Under the Punjab Local Body Ordinance 2002, a union council can impose any fee on the residents within its jurisdiction after getting approval from its general council.

A number of councillors were found `informing’ the applicants at the counters set up at the UC offices that approval for the fee would be obtained in the next general council meeting.

Interestingly, the kite-flying rules provide for punishments for individual violators but do not mention any procedure to get permission in case a nazim is against the kite festival or if he himself commits any violations.