Bhubaneswar, Feb. 16: The construction of the proposed modern abattoir is yet to begin at Gadkana as a section of villagers continue to oppose the project.

The first of its kind abattoir in the state will be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.40 crore with a private party executing the project.

Among other facilities, it will have a boiler for cleaning the carcasses. Around 20,000 goats will be slaughtered in the abattoir annually to meet the city's requirement of mutton. The capital city needs around 350 metric tones of mutton every year.

The group opposing the project said the proposed unit would pollute the area. They also alleged that though Gadkana village had been within the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits for over 42 years, the civic body had been neglecting the area.

"Despite being close to the state capital and becoming a part of the BMC, we have been neglected for years. Bad roads, lack of street lights, cleaning of village pond, upgradation of the health centre and renovation of burial ground are some of the demands which are yet to be fulfilled," said Ashok Kumar Nanda, secretary of the Gadakan Gramya Committee.

Sources said members of the gramya committee were present at the meeting held by the civic body on February 4 to resolve the issue. Police officials were also present at the meeting following which corporation officials said work would begin as villagers had agreed to cooperate. However, the committee members said if BMC began construction work without addressing their problems, they would oppose the project. Apart from the committee members, a section of the villagers have also been opposing the project citing the possibility of environmental pollution.

"We will start protesting if it comes up in our area," said Ashok Kumar Patra, the leader of the group opposing the proposal.

However, the corporation officials are optimistic about the construction of the abattoir in the area. They said the facility would come up on a plot of .5 acres. It will have all the modern facilities to facilitate skinning, chopping and processing and storing of meat.

"There is no chance of the area getting polluted. Garbage disposal will be taken proper care of," said R.N. Mallick, executive engineer, division-I of BMC.

The officials of the corporation said they had accepted most of the demands of the villagers in the meeting last week. "Gadakan village will be the first one to be taken up under Swachha Bharat Abhiyan. Other genuine demands such as renovation of existing burial ground, provision of playground, streetlights, regular visit of doctors to the village dispensary and other things will also be taken care of .We will start working on these things shortly," said Srimanta Mishra, deputy commissioner of BMC.

There is also a proposal for setting up 30 modern meat shops at various places in the city equipped with modern facilities. Sources said if the construction of abattoir began without much delay, it could be completed in the next 18 months. "The city needs a modern abattoir as people have been cutting goats at public places due to lack of such facilities," said an official.