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FAISALABAD, March 9: PPP MPA Jahanzeb Imtiaz Gill threatened on Tuesday that his party would stage protest demonstration, if the district government failed to withdraw toll on three rural area roads.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, he said the district government had already abolished toll from five main roads due to pressure from the trade bodies and rural areas. But the tax was still being collected on three roads in rural areas that, he said, was without any justification. The roads are: Aminpur Bangla Road, Millat Road and Chak Jhumra Road.
He said such a discrimination on part of the local government was a clear proof of step-motherly treatment being meted out to the urban population. He added that the villagers would be left with no option, but to stage demonstration.
The local government had imposed toll on five main roads of the district for six months and started collection from Jan 1, 2004. However, it had to abolish the toll because of frequent protests by the public and the elected representatives. The toll, which was imposed in June last year on several roads in the rural areas, is being charged even today.
WASA OPERATION: The Water and Sanitation Agency chief, Rasheed Ahmad Chaudhry, has pledged crack down on illegal connection holders and those who have installed electric pumps on water supply lines.
In a statement here on Tuesday, the Wasa managing-director said a huge amount was being spent on the supply of sweet water to over 60 per cent of the city's population.
He said the sweet water provided by the agency was costly, as it was being pumped out of the bank of the Chenab. Similarly, scores of tubewells had been installed along the Rakh Branch canal for this purpose, he said, advising the people not to use potable water for cleaning and washing.
The Wasa chief claimed that the major cause of contamination of water was installation of electric pumps on water supply lines. An operation would be launched against the defaulters and illegal connection holders, he added.
