Bhubaneswar, Feb. 18: To ensure better environment around the airport and reduce bird-hit cases, the municipal corporation will develop 18 modern shops to sell non-vegetarian food items at Unit IV market and 12 near Ghatikia.

On the other hand, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will relocate the makeshift non-vegetarian market from Sundarpada to an adjacent facility, which is owned by it and lying defunct.

Sources in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation said the Union ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises has a scheme through which modern non-vegetarian food selling shops can get a subsidy of 50 per cent of the detailed project report or Rs 5 lakh per shop (whichever is less) so that hygienic facilities would come up in cities across the country.

Deputy commissioner and public relations officer, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Deepti Rani Sahoo said: 'The modern shops will have nice flooring, attractive wall tiles, deep freezers, anti-rust cutting plates, geyser for hot water supply, vacuum packing system and drainage for taking waste water to a dedicated pit to eliminate the chance of foul smell. The shops will also have toilets to be used by traders and the customers. Once the detailed project report is approved, we can say when the work will start.''

Airport director Sharad Kumar said: 'Several shops selling meat and chicken products are seen near the approach path of the airport along the NH-5 in Baramunda and Khandagiri. Once modern shops for non-vegetarian items are ready at Ghatikia, open slaughter can be controlled. Open slaughter near the Bhubaneswar Development Authority market at Sundarpada is also causing problem for the airport.''

A senior engineer in the BMC said that after subsidy, shops at Unit IV market and Ghatikia would cost around Rs 14 lakh and 9 lakh, respectively.

'We can take an example from the Chilika Fresh outlets and develop the shops to maintain uniformity and match the people's expectations,' he said.

Sarjan Qureshi, general secretary of the All India Jamiatul Quresh, said: 'We are hearing about modern outlets near Unit IV market for years and the civic body had also conducted a survey two years ago. I am happy that with help from the Union ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises something substantial will happen so that people will get a better environment to shop for non-vegetarian items.''

Herpetologist Subhendu Mallick, including a group of experts who conducted a survey on different bird species in and around the city, said: 'Shops selling non-vegetarian food around the airport and even at major markets in the city should be hygienically maintained to end bird-hit cases as prey birds may circle round their food source from high altitude putting aircraft in danger.''

Environment expert Bijay Mishra said: 'Open slaughter has always attracted ire from Orissa High Court. Civic bodies of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar were told to control sale of non-vegetarian items within closed premises to ensure better environment. The modern shops with better facilities will definitely encourage private shop owners in other areas to follow in their footsteps.''