The Patna Municipal Corporation board in a special meeting on Tuesday approved several schemes in absence of the mayor, pointing to the opposition Afzal Imam is facing from his councillors.

Procurement of solid waste management equipment and repair of streetlights got the green light at the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) board meeting under the chairmanship of deputy mayor Rup Narayan Mehta. In attendance were 48 of the councillors, commissioner Kuldip Narayan and the civic body officials who have resolved to boycott the mayor and councillor Abha Lata for their alleged use of foul language last week.

The board sanctioned Rs 1 lakh each for all 72 wards for the repair of old compact fluorescent lights and Rs 72 lakh for the repair and maintenance of high power sodium vapour bulbs. The board consented to the installation of 30 light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights. Rs 12 lakh was passed for construction of plain cement concrete roads in the internal areas.

Also approved was the decision to award contract to the lowest bidder for procurement of 2,000 public bins and earthmoving machines. The board unanimously decided to float tenders for the door-to-door collection of garbage.

“It is after a long time that all proposals on the agenda were passed unanimously. It would be implemented without delay, as we have the support of all the officials. Mayor Imam was also invited for the meeting but he did not attend it,” said deputy mayor Mehta.

Imam had said on Monday that the special board meeting called by Mehta was illegal. A PIL was also filed in the high court on Tuesday, urging the court to issue a directive to the PMC not to hold a meeting convened by deputy mayor. The single bench refused to stay the meeting and sought a reply from the urban development department that under what circumstances the meeting was convened.

A senior official of PMC said: “Section 26(2) states that a special meeting of the board can be called upon requisition from two-fifth of the ward councillors.”