Bhopal, Aug 2 (IANS) The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial activities operating from residential buildings across the city.
As of now, the civic body has issued 1,018 notices to such establishments, with the highest number—429—served in the Arera Colony and Bawadiya Kalan areas, officials said on Saturday.
Officials have made it clear that units failing to comply with regulations despite receiving notices will face sealing.
City Planner Anil Tatwade of the BMC said that the action is being carried out across the entire city.
“This action will take place across the whole of Bhopal. It has just begun from Arera Colony and will also be carried out in Rohit Nagar. Surveys are being conducted everywhere. Data is being collected from all locations wherein there are commercial properties, if they have permission for commercial properties or is it a residential area, whether they have changed the land use… Then action will be taken as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he told IANS.
To ensure smooth conduct of the operation and prevent any untoward incidents, around 100 police personnel were deployed alongside the Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment squad.
The police and municipal teams worked jointly throughout the drive.
Traders’ associations have appealed to hotels, restaurants, showrooms, and other business owners to keep their establishments closed until the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled for August 4.
However, municipal officials reported that some traders reopened their shops after the teams had left the area.
Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Bhuvan Gupta clarified that the entire operation is being conducted strictly in accordance with Supreme Court directives.
He noted that all building owners had already been issued notices as per the rules.
Most traders voluntarily halted their business activities, while sealing action was taken against those who failed to comply.
The BMC has reiterated that the drive will continue city-wide, with surveys and data collection ongoing in various localities to identify unauthorised commercial use of residential properties.
Officials emphasised that strict action, including sealing of non-compliant establishments, will follow wherever violations persist.
The civic body aims to enforce land-use regulations uniformly and restore the residential character of affected neighbourhoods.
–IANS
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