Mumbai’s 102 Bakeries Get Notices For Using Coal & Wood Amid Increasing Air Pollution

Mumbai city is waking up to increasingly poor air quality, which is concerning. Due to the growing air pollution in the city, the civic authorities have finally taken strict action against businesses that contribute to poor air quality. Read on to know more about the development.

BMC Directs Bakeries To Stop Using Wood & Coal

As per the Free Press Journal, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the pollution control board have directed bakeries and other businesses in the city to stop using coal and wood as fuel. This decision comes as the city’s air quality continues to deteriorate. Authorities believe shifting from wood and coal to cleaner alternatives will help reduce pollution to a great extent. Additionally, the civic administration recently issued stop-work notices to 102 bakery operators who are using wood and coal despite earlier warnings. Officials stated that the action was taken after repeated instructions to adopt other alternatives.

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Authorities have also announced that many bakery owners have started responding to the directive. As per the civic officials, 175 bakery operators have already moved away from wood and coal and have begun using green fuel instead.

Deputy Commissioner, Environment and Climate Change Department of the BMC, Avinash Kate, told the Free Press Journal that 69 bakeries have already initiated the transition to fuel-based ovens as part of the new cleaner operations.

What Did The Bombay High Court Advise?

The Bombay High Court also directed this move during a hearing on January 9, 2025, asking businesses to stop using traditional fuel methods. The court gave them six months to adopt alternative and cleaner fuel options.

Municipal authorities are now taking strict actions by asking bakeries to switch to fuels like LPG or PNG. As these fuels emit far fewer pollutants than traditional ovens, they will help curb the city’s increasing pollution.

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The civic officials have also stated that if bakeries fail to comply with cleaner options, then they may face cancellation of their licences. It is a necessary step for long-term solutions to control pollution and protect public health.

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