BMC Sealing Drive Faces Bias Charge in Bhopal

A sealing drive initiated by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) against illegal commercial establishments in residential areas has come under fire for alleged bias. On Sunday, BMC officials visited a building in Arera Colony, where a designer clothing boutique operated by the daughter-in-law of an influential minister is located. However, instead of sealing the boutique, officials only prepared a panchnama in the name of the owner of the ground-floor electronics showroom.

The boutique is situated on the first and second floors above the electronics showroom, which is owned by Vishwash Chaturvedi. Despite the premises being under scrutiny, officials neither sealed the boutique nor took any action against it. This has led to allegations of selective enforcement by the BMC.

The sealing drive was launched after the Supreme Court directed the BMC to take action against illegal commercial establishments in residential areas. According to BMC data, 429 violations were identified during the first phase of the survey, with 169 in Arera Colony and 260 in Rohit Nagar. Notices were issued to all violators, and a second survey identified over 1,250 additional suspected violations across other parts of the city.

However, despite the large number of violations, only two establishments have been sealed so far. Residents have alleged that the BMC is sparing influential violators, including the minister's daughter-in-law's boutique. A protest was staged by resident associations in the Gautam Nagar area on Sunday, led by complainant Vivek Tripathi.

The protesters claimed that many businesses had reopened within hours of temporarily closing and vowed to place these facts before the Supreme Court during the next hearing on August 4. Deputy municipal commissioner Bhuvan Gupta stated that sealing action would be initiated if commercial activities continued.

The protest was also joined by former Bhopal Commissioner Kavindra Kiyawat, who urged residents to unite against illegal commercial activities. Prayas president Aparna Vashishth alleged that the BMC's actions were largely limited to pasting closure notices outside establishments instead of taking actual sealing action.

The BMC's sealing drive has sparked controversy, with many questioning the corporation's commitment to enforcing the law equally. The alleged sparing of the minister's daughter-in-law's boutique has further fueled these concerns. As the matter is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on August 4, the BMC faces increasing pressure to demonstrate its willingness to take action against all violators, regardless of their influence or connections.

The outcome of the sealing drive will have significant implications for the city of Bhopal, where residents are increasingly frustrated with the proliferation of illegal commercial establishments in residential areas. The BMC's actions will be closely watched, and the corporation will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to fairness and transparency in its enforcement of the law.

In conclusion, the BMC's sealing drive has sparked controversy and allegations of bias, with the alleged sparing of the minister's daughter-in-law's boutique being a major point of concern. As the matter heads to the Supreme Court, the BMC faces a critical test of its commitment to enforcing the law equally and demonstrating transparency in its actions.