Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The principal bench of Jabalpur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, has directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take prompt action against encroachment on government land, worth crores of rupees, in the Chuna Bhatti area of Kolar Road.  

Justice Vishal Dhagat passed the order recently on a petition raising the issue of encroachment on government land at Fortune Villa, Ganga Vihar Colony, Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), behind Kali Mandir, Kolar Road.

It alleged that squatters were involved in commercial activities on government land Khasra no-92/2, Halka No-40, behind the temple. Around 5,000 square feet of government land adjacent to the Kali Mandir has been encroached upon, it said.

Petitioner Man Mohan Negi said, “The entire land has been encroached upon in the vicinity of the Kali Mandir. Commercial activities are on the rise. The entire corner on WALMI Road has been encroached upon, causing traffic bottlenecks. Now that the HC has ordered the BMC Commissioner to consider our representation, we hope action will be taken against encroachment.”

Advocate Prabhat Yadav, who appeared on Negi’s behalf, said, “After the HC order, now the onus lies on the BMC administration to take action against encroachers running commercial activities on government land.”