New Delhi - Officials in Mandalay Division of central Burma have reportedly begun collecting money under the pretext of covering expenses for the approaching referendum, according to local residents.

Authorities, particularly in the areas of Meikhtilar and Tharsi Townships, are collecting money from local residents saying the government needs money to prepare ballot stations and cover other necessary expenses pertaining to the upcoming referendum.

The Burmese junta on Wednesday announced that it will hold the constitutional referendum on May 10.

On the same day as the date for polling was disclosed, the junta made public the official draft constitution subject to the referendum.

However 'Sapay Beikman', the government owned publishing house which is the main distributor of copies of the draft constitution, said it received only 10,000 copies, which were in turn redistributed to private bookstalls in lots of 500 copies.

A local resident of Tharsi Township said authorities commenced collecting money about three weeks ago and have established ballot stations in schools.

"They said they need money for establishing ballot stations and other necessary expenses including stationeries. They began collecting money about three weeks ago," the local resident told Mizzima by telephone.

He added that authorities collected 300 kyat per household in rural areas of Meikhtilar Township and 500 kyat per each household in urban areas.

"I don't understand why they are collecting money, what I thought was that the government would provide the expenses for the referendum," he continued.

In Meikhtilar, the local resident added, authorities are also demanding an additional 100 kyat as a membership fee to join the junta-backed civil organization, Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).

He said most of the residents in the town have been forcibly made to become members of the USDA.

"When they came to houses to register a voter list they simultaneously demanded money for the expenses of the referendum. Most of us don't even know for what purpose the money will be spent, but we have no choice but to give," a local resident of Meikhtilar commented.