Patna, June 1: Ward councillors gave a go-ahead to Patna Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) several urban development and civic administration proposals during the 20th general board meeting of the civic body held at SK Memorial Hall in the capital today.

However, a major proposal to restart a slaughterhouse in Shahganj locality of the city was turned down in the meeting as majority of the councillors were against it. In the meeting, the board asked the administrative wing to prepare a full-fledged high-mast light project for all 72 wards of the city.

“A few areas in the city have high-mast lights which have been put up by district administrations. However, PMC is asked to pay their bills by Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu). As street lighting comes under the ambit of the municipal body, why can’t we have our own system in place? The administrative wing is directed to prepare a detailed project for the same and its tender should be floated,” said mayor Afzal Imam.

The issue of slaughterhouse, meanwhile, caused uproar and disruptions during the meeting as councillors differed over the issue. The proposal was later turned down after the majority went against the recommendation.

According to sources, following a Patna High Court order in 2005, the slaughterhouse was shut down and PMC was asked to look for an alternative site for the work. The PMC informed the court that along with the upcoming waste management plant at Ramachak Bairiya village, about 35km from Patna, a slaughterhouse spread over 5 acres, is also being planned.

Speaking at the meeting today, PMC commissioner Divesh Sehra said as the project was taking time and it could start only after two-three years, it is viable that the slaughterhouse at Shahganj be restarted as no provision for legal slaughterhouse will give rise to slaughtering at unauthorised sites. He also said about Rs 1 crore would be spent to get equipment and other resources before starting the slaughterhouse.

About 43 councillors, led by Deepak Chaurasia, however, rejected the proposal in writing, forcing the PMC board to cancel the proposal. “We are not against the slaughterhouse at a site outside the city but these activities cannot be allowed in densely populated areas where it becomes difficult for people to live because of the stench and unhygienic conditions,” said Dhirendra Kumar Verma, a ward councillor opposing the recommendation of the empowered standing committee. The board also passed the proposal of change of land use to Xavier Training Institute at Digha, which had applied for the permission to convert the institution into a college.

“According to the proposed Patna master plan 2021, the zone falls under green area and hence no construction should be done at the site. However, as the draft is opened for public objection and the owner of the plot had already approached the Board of Enquiry, it is recommended that the planning report be passed,” read the proposal that was later passed by the house.

Councillors also gave a go-ahead to the proposal of 10 per cent increase in the dearness allowance of the corporation allowance, which will give a financial load of Rs 28 lakh to the civic body per month. A proposal to increase wages of skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled labourers associated with the PMC was also passed unanimously by the ward councillors.