PESHAWAR, Dec 29: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) of Matta, one of the worst-affected areas of Swat district because of the prevailing unrest, has sought an immediate grant of Rs11.50 million to meet its operational expenditures.

The administration in a letter sent to the provincial government has said that the demand for the relief package had been unanimously made in a meeting of elders of the tehsil held on Dec 16.

Referring to major incidents that took place in the jurisdiction of Matta Tehsil over the last couple of months, it said the TMA had lost its capability to generate income because 90 per cent of its population had migrated to other parts of the country.

The TMA generates its income through two per cent tax on the transfer of immovable property, cattle fair and general bus stand. When militants took the control of Matta some time back, they had banned the tax collection.

The TMA, according to the letter, had leased out its all three sources of income for the financial year 2007-08, but the contractors had not deposited monthly instalments for the past four months because they were unable to make any collections from the field.

The contract for cattle fair and general bus stand had been awarded for Rs3.5 million and Rs2.1 million, respectively, to a contractor who was killed by the militants, the letter said.

The contract for collection of tax on the transfer of immovable property was awarded for Rs5.8 million to another contractor who had failed to collect the said tax.

The letter said that the TMA was unable to cope with its monthly expenses and liabilities, such as staff salaries, utility bills and POL charges. It appealed to both the federal and provincial governments to disburse Rs11.50 million so that it could meet the expenses.

Matta Tehsil is one of the worst-hit areas of the Swat valley where bomb explosions, gunfight and kidnapping have paralysed the life.

Over the last couple of months, the letter said, hundreds of security personnel and civilians had lost their lives. The TMA building was also damaged in an attack.

The district nazim and his family members were attacked and they have moved to Islamabad. Similarly, the Matta Tehsil nazim was injured in an attack on his car. His bodyguard and driver were killed and he remained under treatment for a long time, the letter explained.