FAISALABAD, July 2: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (City) has once again awarded the contract for the collection of publicity fee without formulating any guidelines for the contractor , identification of sites for hoardings, and size of billboards.

The TMA has awarded the contract for Rs30 million for 2004-2005 without notifying any rules. Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that the TMA had awarded the publicity contract for Rs20.5 million for 2003-2004.

The contractor had allegedly pocketed over Rs100 million with the connivance of the TMA's tax branch by issuing NOCs to national and multinational companies for the installation of huge hoardings.

The installation of hoardings and billboards not only disfigured the city, but also posed serious threat to motorists and pedestrians. The TMA adopted the policy of generating funds in violation of its rules and gave a free hand to the private publicity contractor to earn money by hook or by crook.

Sources in the TMA revealed that the officials must conform to the standards and rules while selecting a site for a hoarding through proper survey. In the recently held meeting of the TMA, some councillors had tabled a motion claiming that the city was full of publicity boards, which had marred the city's architectural features, besides creating traffic hazards.

The resolution also pointed out that the contractor had been given a free hand to issue NOCs for the installation of boards. The house decided to formulate a comprehensive policy for formulating guidelines for the contractor, suitable places for the installation of boards, and declaring some parts of the city sensitive.

However, the TMA has ignored the resolution and awarded the contract for the new year without caring for repercussions. It is pertinent to mention that a number of boards were uprooted during recent rains and storms, which claimed many lives.