62,000 Commercial Property Claim Clashes With 7,951 Cases Reported To Supreme Court

On August 5th, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed the Supreme Court that over 62,000 commercial properties in residential zones had been identified, but the actual number recorded was only 7,951 cases. The discrepancy between the two figures has questioned the validity of the initial 62,000-property claim. Following the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi, which resulted in seven fatalities and twelve injuries, the Supreme Court requested affidavits and reports on adherence to its previous guidelines regarding building safety.

The BMC must also provide information on dilapidated buildings and any action taken against them. A total of 190 premises were closed and sealed for unauthorized use, although corporation records reveal that only seven establishments were sealed, with 183 premises voluntarily closing down. Additionally, 170 premises were closed, of which 165 were later restored once they complied with sanctioned occupancy norms.

Out of the identified cases, 296 involved unapproved construction or deviations from sanctioned building plans, with notices issued under Sections 302(1) and 307(2). Hearings for 124 cases have concluded, and 75 illegal constructions or encroachments have been removed. However, one notice remains pending - an electronic showroom in Arera E-1, which received a corporation notice in 2019 concerning commercial use in a residential area.

Despite the expiration of a 15-day window in 2019, the corporation has yet to take any action. The report also lists the number of Rule-11 notices issued by zone, ranging from 184 in Zone 7 to 603 in Zone 8.