Patna, June 4: The cabinet today gave its nod to a two-fold increase in the monthly allowance of local body representatives.

The local body representatives who would benefit from the approval include the chiefs and their deputies in the zilla parishads, panchayat samitis and panchayats.

Cabinet coordination department principal secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said the government would incur an additional expenditure of Rs 194.88 crore per annum with the increase in the allowance.

“The zilla parishad president will now be entitled to get Rs 8,000 a month (basic salary) along with other allowances. Similarly, the deputy chief of the zilla parishad will be entitled to get Rs 6,000 every month,” said Mehrotra.

There are 8,442 mukhiyas, 8,442 sarpanchs, 11,534 panchayat samiti members and 1,162 district board members in the state. Sources said increase in the allowances could be the state government’s attempt to strengthen its base at the lower level by keeping the elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions in good humour. Last September, around 2,000 rural representatives from across the state had staged protests before chief minister Nitish Kumar, alleging high-handedness of officials and rampant corruption in the implementation of development schemes.

The cabinet approved the creation of a committee for the international museum coming up on Bailey Road. The committee will be headed by the chief minister and include the art, culture and youth affairs minister, development commissioner and art, culture and youths affairs department secretary as members.

The building construction department has shortlisted four firms, based outside the state, to construct the Bihar Museum at an estimated outlay of Rs 350 crore.

Mehrotra said: “The cabinet gave its nod to the approval of criteria for upgrade of middle schools to high schools. Around 4,000 middle schools will be upgraded in phases.”

Among the 16 agendas approved by the cabinet included an amendment to the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation Act. According to the amendment, tax on private commercial vehicles with registration number from other states operating in Bihar will be increased by around 20-40 per cent.

A change in the eligibility criteria for police recruitment was also passed.

Now, Intermediate passoutswould be eligible to be appointed constables.