Increase no-construction zone area around water tanks: BMC

BHOPAL: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has written to the state government to increase the area for no-construction zone around overhead water tanks in the state capital. Stung by criticism after the collapse of an overhead tank in Saibaba Nagar last month, the corporation has now written to the expand the zone from the existing 15-25 metre area.
"Currently, the old norms of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department ban settlement or construction activity 15-20 meters away from the overhead tanks. The corporation has proposed to increase this to 1.5 to 2 times the height of the tank," Amit Gajbhiye, city planner, BMC told TOI.
However, requesting anonymity, BMC officials said there are settlements under over-head water tanks in many areas of Bhopal. "Most of private colonies on Hoshangabad road, Kolar and Trilanga have establishments close to water tanks. There are also establishments near the water tank at E-2 and E-6 Arera Colony, MP Nagar, Jummerati and a few other areas of old Bhopal and Jawahar Chowk", they alleged.