Bhopal Municipal Corporation's 62,000 Property Claim Contradicted by Filed Cases

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation faces scrutiny over a major discrepancy in its crackdown on commercial activities in residential areas. Officials initially claimed more than 62,000 commercial properties were identified for violations, but the corporation's own zone-wise figures total only 7,617 cases, with an affidavit mentioning 7,951 cases where Rule-11 notices were issued.

The sharp difference has raised questions about the basis of the inflated 62,000-property figure. Additionally, discrepancies exist in closure claims: the affidavit states 190 premises were closed and sealed, but records show only seven were actually sealed, while 183 underwent voluntary closure. The corporation has also identified 296 unauthorized construction cases and issued notices in these matters.

Following the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi that killed seven people, the Supreme Court has sought detailed affidavits on compliance with building safety directives. The BMC must provide information on dilapidated structures and remedial action taken, with the matter scheduled for hearing on September 15.