Questions Raised Over Bhopal Municipal Corporation's Sealing Actions Amid Allegations of Favoring Influential Parties

Questions Raised Over Bhopal Municipal Corporation's Sealing Actions

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation's sealing actions against commercial activities operating illegally on residential plots are being described as biased. Petitioners and residents allege that the corporation is overlooking large and influential establishments while cracking down on small traders. This issue has reached the Supreme Court, where the corporation's working methods have been questioned.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, during a hearing on August 5, had ordered all municipal corporations to completely remove commercial activities from residential areas by September 15. While the Bhopal Municipal Corporation claims to be taking action in compliance with this order, the reality is that the drive is reportedly limited to surveys and a select few buildings.

Petitioner Vivek Tripathi has raised serious questions about the corporation's approach, calling the action a mere facade. He demands uniform application of rules and impartial action, threatening to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court if this is not done.

Court's Strictness and Allegations Against Corporation

During the previous hearing, Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan expressed displeasure by dissolving a committee formed by the state government. When amicus curiae (court's assistant) advocate A. K. Sinha informed the court that buildings sealed by the municipal corporation had been reopened citing stay orders, the court immediately passed an order quashing the stay order from the Jabalpur court.

Furthermore, instructions were issued to file FIRs against establishments that reopened immediately after sealing. The Supreme Court has adopted a firm stance against irregular land use and illegal construction. In an action-taken report filed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation on August 5, it was stated that over a thousand illegal constructions had been identified in residential areas in Bhopal, and action was being taken, with more than 100 buildings sealed so far.

However, residents have refuted this report, stating that the actual number of sealed buildings is significantly lower.

Allegations of Special Neglect in Arera Colony

Residents of Arera Colony have expressed particular dissatisfaction with the corporation's functioning. They claim that no action has been taken against any illegal malls, showrooms, or pubs in Arera Colony. Even a liquor shop operating in front of a temple continues to function, while a snack vendor has been sealed.

Residents allege that the municipal corporation is attempting to mislead the Supreme Court. They claim that only nominal sealing is being done in some places, while in others, notices are being issued as a mere formality. Residents have also questioned the municipal corporation's team about when their complaints will be addressed.

Petitioner Vivek Tripathi stated that illegal constructions have made life difficult for the residents of Arera Colony. Due to the greed of land mafias, it has become difficult for common people to walk on the roads, and illegal buildings have encroached upon the footpaths. The lack of parking facilities leads to traffic jams within the colony.

In protest against these problems, residents have staged torch marches, candle marches, and rain marches to voice their dissent, but no concrete steps have been taken by the corporation.

Collective Struggle and Future Strategy

Another resident, Lavneesh Bhati, stated that they have been appealing to the district administration for a long time, but due to the apathy of the municipal corporation and other responsible officials, land mafias have become so powerful that activities like liquor shops are operating in front of temples.

The Joint Residents' Struggle Committee, which is leading this campaign against land mafias, is also receiving support from several other residential committees in Bhopal. Committees from Gautam Nagar, Kolar Road, Nehru Nagar, Trilanga, Rohit Nagar, Rachna Nagar, Bawadia, Saket Nagar, BHEL, Kotra, Lalghati, Shakti Nagar, and Shahpura are also part of this movement.

Prominent individuals such as former IAS officer Kavindra Kiyawat, former DGP Arun Gurtu, Purnendu Shukla, Subhash Pandey, Mohan Kharfate, Soma Kant Umalkar, Aparna Vashisht, Shubhra Goyal, Neeraj Gulati, Kamal Rathi, Vivek Tripathi, and Lavneesh Bhati are part of this committee. The upcoming strategy includes demanding an immediate halt to under-construction buildings and action against responsible officials in whose jurisdictions illegal constructions have occurred.