6.8k notices issued, BMC to crack down on illegal commercial use

Bhopal: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to intensify its crack down on commercial activities operating from residential properties, with around 6,800 notices issued across the city so far. Officials said a final 24-hour notice will be served to property owners whose initial notice period has expired, after which premises continuing unauthorised commercial activity may be sealed.The initial 10-day notice period for properties served earlier expired on Monday. However, BMC did not undertake sealing action on the day and is expected to issue final notices to owners of 228 properties served notices on August 9.BMC deputy commissioner Bhuvan Gupta said sealing action would follow if violations continued beyond the final deadline. The drive began on August 9 following the Supreme Court’s August 5 order.BMC teams are conducting constituency-wise surveys across six assembly constituencies, checking building permissions, land-use records and other documents to identify violations. The civic body plans to inspect more than 62,000 properties as part of the exercise.The action covers shops, offices and other establishments operating from premises approved for residential use. BMC has also tightened scrutiny of new building permissions, with applicants’ credentials to be verified before approvals. City planners have been assigned to monitor permissions in their respective constituencies.