Bhopal Municipal Corporation Resumes Sealing Drive

A sealing drive against commercial establishments operating in residential areas was resumed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation on Monday, leading to a clash between traders and municipal workers. The argument between the two sides turned heated, with traders raising objections to the action and later trying to block roads in protest.

The situation became tense as the municipal teams reached different areas of the city to seal commercial establishments being run from residential locations. A video showed some traders opposing the action and getting into heated arguments with municipal workers.

Following the dispute, some traders came onto the roads and tried to block traffic. The police were called to the spot and moved the traders away from the roads, allowing traffic movement to resume.

The incident took place as the Bhopal Municipal Corporation resumed its sealing drive on Monday. The civic body had pasted final 24-hour notices on shops on Saturday, asking traders to close their establishments. Following the notices, traders in Gautam Nagar and some other areas had voluntarily shut their shops.

The corporation has also been asking traders to close their businesses themselves before the sealing teams take action. Officials said that if traders voluntarily close their establishments, the municipal team will record the situation through a panchnama. After this, the establishment cannot be reopened without permission from the court.

A similar drive was carried out in the last week of July, when several shops between Arera Colony and Bawadiya Kalan were closed. However, many of the shops reopened the next day.

For Monday’s action, the corporation formed six teams comprising 56 officials and employees. Each team includes a team in-charge, assistant team in-charge, zonal officer, ward in-charge, encroachment officer, technical officer and sub-engineer or building inspector.

The action is being carried out under the supervision of the concerned zonal officer. The corporation also sought police support from Misrod, Habibganj, Ratibad, Kohefiza, Govindpura, Aishbagh, Kolar, Talaiya, Kotwali, Shahjahanabad and Gautam Nagar police stations.

Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain said that the corporation is taking strict action against commercial establishments operating in residential areas. The drive is expected to continue in the coming days, with the corporation aiming to seal all commercial establishments operating in residential areas.

The sealing drive is part of the corporation's efforts to regulate commercial activities in residential areas and ensure that traders operate from designated commercial zones. The drive is expected to have a significant impact on the city's commercial landscape, with many traders likely to be affected.

In conclusion, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation's sealing drive against commercial establishments operating in residential areas is a significant step towards regulating commercial activities in the city. The drive is expected to continue in the coming days, with the corporation aiming to seal all commercial establishments operating in residential areas.