A dispute over an opposition leader’s remark disrupted the Bhopal Municipal Corporation council meeting on Saturday, even as the House approved a Rs 493.49 crore loan under the AMRUT 2.0 programme and took up proposals on water supply, sanitation, pollution and municipal properties.
The commotion began during a discussion on renting out a hall on the fourth floor of the New Market multilevel parking facility. Leader of opposition Shabista Zaki said, “I do not take commission”, prompting sharp objections from BJP corporators, who gathered near the chairman’s dais and demanded an apology.
Council chairman Kishan Suryavanshi asked Zaki to apologise and directed that the remark be removed from the proceedings. Zaki refused, after which the House was adjourned for 15 minutes. The dispute also brought scrutiny to municipal payments that Zaki said had been made despite audit objections. Members of the Mayor-in-Council maintained that the payments had been made in accordance with rules.
The disruption took place as the council considered decisions with direct implications for the city’s infrastructure and municipal services. The House approved a loan of Rs 493.49 crore under AMRUT 2.0, the central urban infrastructure programme. Congress corporators, however, raised concerns about pollution in the Upper Lake and sought an inquiry into the contractor associated with the project.
The council also approved, by majority, a proposal to rent out space in the municipal headquarters’ service block and cafeteria. A separate proposal concerning Hawkers Corner near Girls’ College under the Son Chiraiya initiative was deferred for amendments.
Education and sanitation were among the other issues raised by corporators from both BJP and Congress. Members supported the use of education cess funds to improve government schools. They also sought an assessment of sanitation worker shortages across all 85 municipal wards and recruitment based on local requirements.
The meeting further addressed the removal of posters and banners from directional signboards and alleged illegal encroachments at the New Market parking facility. These issues link the council’s administrative decisions to the daily management of public spaces, commercial areas and municipal assets.
Water supply concerns were also raised, including the quality of water reaching residents and weaknesses in the pipeline network. Corporators referred to complaints of contaminated water and the pendency of 901 complaints, although the report did not specify the period covered by those complaints or the locations involved.
The council’s proceedings ended with several civic service issues remaining under discussion, including water infrastructure, sanitation staffing, Upper Lake pollution, municipal property rentals and action related to the New Market parking facility.
